Method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler
First Claim
1. A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material is provided in a plurality of discrete regions on the buttress body, wherein the adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge;
(b) moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge, wherein the act of moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge comprises providing localized pressure against the buttress assembly at discrete locations corresponding to the discrete regions of adhesive material; and
(c) moving the anvil back to the open position, wherein the buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open positionwherein the buttress assembly further comprises a plurality of reinforcement strands passing on or through the buttress body, the method further comprising driving the staples through the buttress assembly, wherein each staple has a crown and a pair of legs, wherein the crowns of at least some of the staples or the legs of at least some of the staples engage at least some of the reinforcement strands after the staples are driven through the buttress assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector comprises positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge. The anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The method further comprises moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge then moving the anvil back to the open position. The buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position. The adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.
858 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material is provided in a plurality of discrete regions on the buttress body, wherein the adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge; (b) moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge, wherein the act of moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge comprises providing localized pressure against the buttress assembly at discrete locations corresponding to the discrete regions of adhesive material; and (c) moving the anvil back to the open position, wherein the buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position wherein the buttress assembly further comprises a plurality of reinforcement strands passing on or through the buttress body, the method further comprising driving the staples through the buttress assembly, wherein each staple has a crown and a pair of legs, wherein the crowns of at least some of the staples or the legs of at least some of the staples engage at least some of the reinforcement strands after the staples are driven through the buttress assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and at least one heat sensitive strand woven through the buttress body such that the at least one heat sensitive strand is fixedly attached within the buttress body, wherein exposed sections of the heat sensitive strand face either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge; (b) applying heat to the heat sensitive strand, wherein the heat sensitive strand deforms in response to the heat; and (c) removing the heat from the heat sensitive strand, allowing the heat sensitive strand to cool; wherein the heat sensitive strand adheres to the underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge in response to the combination of applying heat and removing the heat, thereby adhering the buttress body to the underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge.
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18. A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge; (b) moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge; and (c) moving the anvil back to the open position, wherein the buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position, wherein the adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer having one or more of the following properties; (i)malleability, (ii) an inherent viscosity at or below 3.0 dL/g, (iii) a glass transition temperature (Tg) at or below 0°
C., or(iv) flowability; wherein the buttress body defines a plurality of cells, wherein a first portion of the adhesive material is located within cells of the plurality of cells, wherein a second portion of the adhesive material is located on the buttress body outside the plurality of cells, wherein the act of moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge comprises driving at least some of the first portion of the adhesive material out of the cells.
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Specification