Appeal No. 97-2552 Page 9
Application No. 08/541,658
the structure formed by a crosslinking agent such that upon
irradiation of the suture material the crosslinking agent adheres
to the biological material and thereby provides closure at the
anastomotic site. The laser means 83 provides the necessary
light energy in the form of laser radiation to effect
crosslinking of the suture material at the anastomotic site.
Sinofsky '670 teaches (column 2, lines 38-46) that various
"biological glue" materials can be employed as crosslinking
agents in either solid, liquid, gel or powder form to form
a bond to tissue segments and thereby hold them together while
natural healing processes occur. Examples of such crosslinking
agents include collagen, elastin, fibrin, albumin and various
other photoreactive polymeric materials. In addition, Sinofsky
'670 (column 2, lines 60-65) uses the terms "anastomosis" and
"anastomotic site" to broadly encompass the joinder of biological
structures, including, for example, incision and wound healing,
repair of blood vessels and other tubular structures, sealing of
fissures, nerve repairs, reconstructive procedures, and the like.
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