Circular stapler buttress combination

• US 20030183671A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synovis Life Technologies Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Synovis Life Technologies Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Mooradian, Daniel L., Oray, B. Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing

Abstract

A combination medical device comprising a circular stapler instrument and one or more portions of preformed buttress material adapted to be stably positioned upon the staple cartridge and/or anvil components of the stapler prior or at the time of use. Positioned buttress material(s) are delivered to a tissue site where the circular stapler is actuated to connect previously severed tissue portions. The buttress material is retained and provides an improved seal between the joined tissue sections. The buttress material is made up of two regions, one of which serves primarily to secure the buttress material to the stapler prior to actuation, and one of which serves primarily to form the improved seal. The former region is severed and discarded upon activation of the circular stapler to form an anastomoses. Methods of use and preparation of the buttress material are also described.

Claims

1. A combination medical device comprising:

a) a circular stapler instrument, comprising a staple cartridge component and corresponding anvil component, and

b) one or more portions of buttress material adapted to be a) stably positioned upon the staple cartridge and/or anvil components of the stapler prior to, or at the time of, use, b) while in position upon the stapler component(s), to then be delivered to a tissue site in combination with the stapler components, c) upon delivery of the components and positioned material portion(s) to the tissue site, to provide a first region of buttress material as a staple line buttress seal between joined tissue sections upon activation of the stapler, and optionally, d) to permit the removal of one or more portions of the second region of the buttress material upon activation of a stapler knife provided by the stapler.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the buttress material comprises preformed animal tissue.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium.

4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the pericardium has been formed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

5. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the buttress material is provided as a plurality of portions, including one portion adapted to fit the staple cartridge and another portion adapted to fit the anvil component.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the buttress material portions each comprise two or more regions, including a first region adapted to serve as the staple line buttress itself, together with a second region adapted to assist in positioning and/or retaining the buttress material upon a stapler component.

7. A combination according to claim 6 wherein one or more portions of the second region are adapted to be removed from the tissue site upon formation of the staple seam and activation of a stapler knife.

8. A combination according to claim 7 wherein the second region is generally concentric to, and integral with, the first region, providing a desired three dimensional and/or topographic structure adapted to position and/or retain the materials in place upon the respective stapler component.

9. A combination according to claim 8 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium that has been preformed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the buttress material portion adapted to fit the cartridge component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the cartridge, and the buttress material portion adapted to fit the anvil component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the anvil.

21. A method of performing a surgical stapling procedure, the method comprising the steps of providing a combination according to claim 1, and employing the stapler and buttress material to provide a buttressed surgical seam between abutting tissue portions.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the buttress material comprises preformed animal tissue.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the pericardium has been formed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

25. A method according to claim 21 wherein the buttress material portions are provided as a plurality of portions, including one portion adapted to fit the staple cartridge and another portion adapted to fit the anvil component.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the buttress material portions each comprise two or more regions, including a first region adapted to serve as the staple line buttress itself, together with a second region adapted to assist in positioning and/or retaining the buttress material upon a stapler component.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein one or more portions of the second region are adapted to be removed from the tissue site upon formation of the staple seam and activation of a stapler knife.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the second region is generally concentric to, and integral with, the first region, providing a desired three dimensional and/or topographic structure adapted to position and/or retain the materials in place upon the respective stapler component.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium that has been preformed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the buttress material portion adapted to fit the cartridge component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the cartridge, and the buttress material portion adapted to fit the anvil component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the anvil.

11. A kit for use in a circular stapling procedure employing a circular stapler that comprises a staple cartridge component and a corresponding anvil component,

the kit comprising one or more portions of buttress material adapted to be a) stably positioned upon the staple cartridge and/or anvil components of the stapler prior to, or at the time of, use, b) while in position upon the stapler component(s), to then be delivered to a tissue site in combination with the stapler components, c) upon delivery of the components and positioned material portion(s) to the tissue site, to provide a first region of buttress material as a staple line buttress seal between joined tissue sections upon activation of the stapler, and optionally, d) to permit the removal of one or more portions of the second region of the buttress material upon activation of a stapler knife provided by the stapler.

12. A kit according to claim 11 wherein the buttress material comprises preformed animal tissue.

13. A kit according to claim 12 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium.

14. A kit according to claim 13 wherein the pericardium has been formed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

15. A kit according to claim 11 wherein the buttress material is provided as a plurality of buttress material portions, including one portion adapted to fit the staple cartridge and another portion adapted to fit the anvil component.

16. A kit according to claim 15 wherein the buttress material portions each comprise two or more regions, including a first region adapted to serve as the staple line buttress itself, together with a second region adapted to assist in positioning and/or retaining the buttress material portion upon a stapler component.

17. A kit according to claim 16 wherein one or more portions of the second region are adapted to be removed from the tissue site upon formation of the staple seam and activation of a stapler knife.

18. A kit according to claim 17 wherein the second region is generally concentric to, and integral with, the first region, providing a desired three dimensional and/or topographic structure adapted to position and/or retain the materials in place upon the respective stapler component.

19. A kit according to claim 18 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium that has been preformed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

20. A kit according to claim 19 wherein the buttress material portion adapted to fit the cartridge component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the cartridge, and the buttress material portion adapted to fit the anvil component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the anvil.

31. A method of forming a buttress material for use in a kit according to claim 11, the method comprising the steps of treating pericardium positioned upon a form of suitable size and shape to approximate that of a surgical stapler component.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the buttress material comprises preformed animal tissue.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the pericardium has been formed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium.

35. A method according to claim 31 wherein the buttress material is provided as a plurality of portions, including one portion adapted to fit the staple cartridge and another portion adapted to fit the anvil component.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the buttress material portions each comprise two or more regions, including a first region adapted to serve as the staple line buttress itself, together with a second region adapted to assist in positioning and/or retaining the buttress material upon a stapler component.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein one or more portions of the second region are adapted to be removed from the tissue site upon formation of the staple seam and activation of a stapler knife.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the second region is generally concentric to, and integral with, the first region, providing a desired three dimensional and/or topographic structure adapted to position and/or retain the materials in place upon the respective stapler component.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the preformed animal tissue comprises pericardium that has been preformed by a process that includes the steps of wrapping the pericardium onto a mandrel or other model shape, soaking the wrapped pericardium in a crosslinking solution, removing the pericardium from the mandrel or other model shape, and sterilizing the pericardium..

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein the buttress material portion adapted to fit the cartridge component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the cartridge, and the buttress material portion adapted to fit the anvil component comprises a circumferential disc having an integral raised center portion adapted to fit the recessed central aperture of the anvil.