| CPC A61B 17/08 (2013.01) [A61F 2/04 (2013.01); A61F 5/0013 (2013.01); A61F 5/0076 (2013.01); A61F 5/0089 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00818 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00995 (2013.01); A61B 17/1114 (2013.01); A61B 2017/308 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0815 (2016.02); A61F 2002/044 (2013.01); A61F 2002/045 (2013.01); A61F 2/064 (2013.01); A61F 2002/075 (2013.01); A61F 2/95 (2013.01); A61F 2002/9528 (2013.01); F04C 2270/041 (2013.01)] | 30 Claims |

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1. A method of protecting an anastomosis in an intestine during healing, the method comprising:
introducing a device into the intestine through an anal orifice of a patient, the device comprising a negative pressure anchor coupled to a sheath;
routing the negative pressure anchor to an anchor site in the intestine upstream of the anastomosis; and
applying negative pressure to a suction chamber of the negative pressure anchor to suck an intestinal wall against an outer surface of the negative pressure anchor, such that the device is anchored to the intestinal wall and the sheath extends downstream from the negative pressure anchor and across the anastomosis, thereby protecting the anastomosis,
wherein applying the negative pressure causes the negative pressure anchor to stay in place at the anchor site in the intestine upstream of the anastomosis during peristalsis.
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