Apparatus for anastomosing a cut vessel

1. An apparatus for anastomosing a cut vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a first ring having longitudinally spaced first and second ring surfaces and an inner surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the inner surface of the first ring defining an inner lumen configured to receive a first vessel end of the cut vessel, the first ring including an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession of the first ring being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the inner surface of the first ring having at least one inner surface spike extending away from the inner surface into the inner lumen, the at least one inner surface spike of the first ring being configured to penetrate a vessel wall of the first vessel end and secure the first ring to the first vessel end, the recession floor of the first ring including at least one floor spike longitudinally extending therefrom for penetrating an everted portion of the first vessel end; and

a second ring having longitudinally spaced first and second ring surfaces and an inner surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the inner surface of the second ring defining an inner lumen configured to receive a second vessel end of the cut vessel, the second ring including an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession of the second ring being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the inner surface of the second ring having at least one inner surface spike extending away from the inner surface into the inner lumen, the at least one inner surface spike of the second ring being configured to penetrate a vessel wall of the second vessel end and secure the second ring to the second vessel end, the recession floor of the second ring including at least one floor spike longitudinally extending therefrom for penetrating an everted portion of the first vessel end;

wherein the first and second rings, after being secured to the first and second vessel ends, are configured to be joined together into direct engagement to anastomose the cut vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner surface spike of the first ring extends at about a forty-five (45) to about a sixty (60) degree angle with respect to the inner surface of the first ring, and the at least one inner surface spike of the second ring extends at about a forty-five (45) to about a sixty (60) degree angle with respect to the inner surface of the second ring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first ring surface of the first ring includes at least one post configured to be received in a corresponding receiver depression on the first ring surface of the second ring when the first and second rings are joined together.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the at least one post is configured to engage a portion of the corresponding receiver depression to at least partially prevent the at least one post from egressing the corresponding receiver depression.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second ring are at least partially prevented from rotating relative to one another when the at least one post is received in the corresponding receiver depression.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the first ring includes and an outer surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the outer surface of the first ring having an orientation indicator, and

the second ring includes and an outer surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the outer surface of the second ring having an orientation indicator, the orientation indicators of the first and second rings being configured to align with one another when the first and second rings are joined together.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the first ring has a first layer of material that is separately formed from the first ring and joined to the inner surface of the first ring, the at least one inner surface spike of the first ring being provided on the first layer of material, the first ring having a second layer of material that is separately formed from the first ring and joined to the recession floor of the first ring, the at least one floor spike of the first ring being provided on the second layer of material, and

the second ring has a first layer of material that is separately formed from the second ring and joined to the inner surface of the second ring, the at least one inner surface spike of the second ring being provided on the first layer of material, the second ring having a second layer of material that is separately formed from the second ring and joined to the recession floor of the second ring, the at least one floor spike of the second ring being provided on the second layer of material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second rings are shaped as a funnel, flute, truncated cone, or semi-octagon.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the inner lumen of the first ring inwardly tapers from the first ring surface to the second ring surface of the first ring, and

the inner lumen of the second ring inwardly tapers from the first ring surface to the second ring surface of the second ring.

10. A method anastomosing a cut vessel, the method comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 1 ;

positioning the first ring over a first vessel end of the cut vessel so that the first vessel end is in the inner lumen and surrounded by the inner surface of the first ring;

penetrating a vessel wall of the first vessel end with the at least one inner surface spike of the first ring to secure the first ring to the first vessel end;

positioning the second ring over a second vessel end of the cut vessel so that the second vessel end is in the inner lumen and surrounded by the inner surface of the second ring;

penetrating a vessel wall of the second vessel end with the at least one inner surface spike of the second ring to secure the second ring to the second vessel end; and

with the first and second rings secured to the first and second vessel ends, joining the first and second rings together to anastomose the cut vessel.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

everting an edge of the first vessel end onto the central recession of the first ring;

penetrating the vessel wall of the first vessel end with the at least one floor spike of the first ring to secure the first ring to the edge of the first vessel end;

everting an edge of the second vessel end onto the central recession of the second ring; and

penetrating the vessel wall of the second vessel end with the at least one floor spike of the second ring to secure the second ring to the edge of the second vessel end.

12. An apparatus for anastomosing a cut vessel, the apparatus comprising:

a first ring having longitudinally spaced first and second ring surfaces and an inner surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the inner surface defining an inner lumen configured to receive a first vessel end of the cut vessel, the inner surface having at least one spike extending away from the inner surface into the inner lumen, the at least one spike of the first ring being configured to penetrate a vessel wall of the first vessel end and secure the first ring to the first vessel end; and

a second ring having longitudinally spaced first and second ring surfaces and an inner surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the inner surface defining an inner lumen configured to receive a second vessel end of the cut vessel, the inner surface having at least one spike extending away from the inner surface into the inner lumen, the at least one spike of the second ring being configured to penetrate a vessel wall of the second vessel end and secure the second ring to the second vessel end;

wherein the first and second rings, after being secured to the first and second vessel ends, are configured to be joined together into direct engagement to anastomose the cut vessel; and

wherein the first ring surface of the first ring includes a plurality of posts and the first ring surface of the second ring includes a plurality of receiver depressions that receive the plurality of posts when the first and second rings are joined together, at least one of the posts being configured to be received in only one correspondingly configured receiver depression.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one spike of the first ring extends at about a forty-five (45) to about a sixty (60) degree angle with respect to the inner surface of the first ring, and the at least one spike of the second ring extends at about a forty-five (45) to about a sixty (60) degree angle with respect to the inner surface of the second ring.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a portion of at least one of the posts is configured to engage a portion of a corresponding receiver depression to at least partially prevent the at least one post from egressing the corresponding receiver depression.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first and second ring are at least partially prevented from rotating relative to one another when the posts are received in the receiver depressions.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

the first ring includes and an outer surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the outer surface of the first ring having an orientation indicator, and

the second ring includes and an outer surface longitudinally extending between the first and second ring surfaces, the outer surface of the second ring having an orientation indicator, the orientation indicators of the first and second rings being configured to align with one another when the first and second rings are joined together.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

the first ring includes an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the recession floor including at least one spike longitudinally extending therefrom for penetrating an everted portion of the first vessel end, and

the second ring includes an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the recession floor including at least one spike longitudinally extending therefrom for penetrating an everted portion of the second vessel end.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein

the first ring has a first layer of material that is separately formed from the first ring and joined to the inner surface of the first ring, the at least one spike that extends away from the inner surface of the first ring being provided on the first layer of material, the first ring having a second layer of material that is separately formed from the first ring and joined to the recession floor of the first ring, the at least one spike that extends away from the recession floor of the first ring being provided on the second layer of material, and

the second ring has a first layer of material that is separately formed from the second ring and joined to the inner surface of the second ring, the at least one spike that extends away from the inner surface of the second ring being provided on the first layer of material, the second ring having a second layer of material that is separately formed from the second ring and joined to the recession floor of the second ring, the at least one spike that extends away from the recession floor of the second ring being provided on the second layer of material.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second rings are shaped as a funnel, flute, truncated cone, or semi-octagon.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

the inner lumen of the first ring inwardly tapers from the first ring surface to the second ring surface of the first ring, and

the inner lumen of the second ring inwardly tapers from the first ring surface to the second ring surface of the second ring.

21. A method anastomosing a cut vessel, the method comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 12 ;

positioning the first ring over a first vessel end of the cut vessel so that the first vessel end is in the inner lumen and surrounded by the inner surface of the first ring;

penetrating a vessel wall of the first vessel end with the at least one spike that extends away from the inner surface of the first ring to secure the first ring to the first vessel end;

positioning the second ring over a second vessel end of the cut vessel so that the second vessel end is in the inner lumen and surrounded by the inner surface of the second ring;

penetrating a vessel wall of the second vessel end with the at least one spike that extends away from the inner surface of the second ring to secure the second ring to the second vessel end; and

with the first and second rings secured to the first and second vessel ends, joining the first and second rings together to anastomose the cut vessel.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein

the first ring includes an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the recession floor including at least one spike longitudinally extending away from the recession floor, and

the second ring includes an annular central recession between the inner surface and the first ring surface, the annular recession being defined by a longitudinally extending recession sidewall and a laterally extending recession floor, the recession floor including at least one spike longitudinally extending away from the recession floor, the method further comprising:

everting an edge of the first vessel end onto the central recession of the first ring;

penetrating the vessel wall of the first vessel end with the at least one spike that extends away from the recession floor of the first ring to secure the first ring to the edge of the first vessel end;

everting an edge of the second vessel end onto the central recession of the second ring; and

penetrating the vessel wall of the second vessel end with the at least one spike that extends away from the recession floor of the second ring to secure the second ring to the edge of the second vessel end.