Circular stapler buttress

• US 20050059996A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Bauman, Ann M., Daugherty, John R., Pih, Norman, Crawley, Jerald M., Broyles, Stuart E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• 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

Abstract

A buttress for use with circular surgical staplers that does not require adhesive to securely fasten the buttress to the stapler. Following cutting and stapling by the circular stapler, the buttress has an adaptive opening through its central region with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stapler anvil. Because of relief features built into the buttress, the stapler anvil may be pulled through the buttress material without causing permanent alteration to the buttress. These relief features may be provided regardless of whether the buttress is made of inelastic or elastic materials. The buttress is generally circular in shape with an outer diameter sized to coincide with the outer diameter of the stapler body staple compression surface and the outer diameter of the anvil compression surface of a circular stapler with which it is used. Prior to surgical use, the buttress is attached to the stapler with disruptable portions extending from outer perimetal areas of the buttress.

Claims

1. A reinforcement device for use with a circular stapler that is adapted to create and seal a surgical opening in a patient comprising:

a buttress adapted for mounting on the circular stapler, the stapler having an anvil that is larger in diameter than the surgical opening that is created by the stapler, wherein following stapling with the stapler, the buttress reinforces the surgical opening created by the stapler in the patient;

wherein the buttress includes at least one adaptive opening created by the circular stapler which corresponds to the surgical opening in the patient, said adaptive opening when circular having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the anvil, and wherein the adaptive opening in the buttress allows the anvil to be removed therethrough without causing permanent alteration to the buttress.

2. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the permanent alteration includes tearing.

3. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the permanent alteration includes permanent deformation to the adaptive opening created by the stapler.

4. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress has slits along a periphery of the adaptive opening.

5. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress is corrugated along a periphery of the adaptive opening.

6. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress self-aligns on the stapler anvil.

7. The reinforcement device of claim 6 wherein the self-aligned buttress is retained on the stapler without use of an adhesive on portions of the buttress that contact a compression surface of said stapler.

8. The reinforcement device of claim 6 wherein the buttress self-aligns with respect to a central shaft on the stapler anvil.

9. The reinforcement device of claim 6 wherein the buttress self-aligns on the stapler anvil by conforming to an edge delimiting an outer diameter of the stapler.

10. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement buttress comprises a bioabsorbable material.

11. The reinforcement device of claim 10, wherein the bioabsorbable material comprises a copolymer of poly(glycolide:

trimethylene carbonate).

12. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress includes a filler material.

13. The reinforcement device of claim 12 wherein the filler material comprises a therapeutic agent.

14. The reinforcement device of claim 12 wherein the filler material comprises a bioactive agent.

15. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially inelastic material.

16. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially elastic material.

17. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the buttress comprises at least one polymeric material.

18. The reinforcement device of claim 17 wherein the polymeric material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

19. The reinforcement device of claim 18 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

20. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the circular stapler is adapted to create an anastomotic junction between body tissue;

and the buttress augments resistance to radial distension at the anastomotic junction.

21. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the device has a reinforced central region that provides added rigidity to the central region.

22. The reinforcement device of claim 21 wherein the central region has greater thickness than other regions of the device.

23. The reinforcement device of claim 21 wherein the central region has denser material than other regions of the device.

24. The reinforcement device of claim 1 further comprising at least one protrusion disruptably connected to said buttress, said protrusion having an adhesive on at least a portion thereof for attaching said buttress to said stapler.

25. The reinforcement device of claim 24 further comprising a removable covering placed over said adhesive on said protrusion.

26. A reinforcement device for use with a circular stapler adapted to create a substantially circular hole in a patient, said circular stapler having a stapler anvil portion with a first compression surface and a stapler body portion with a second compression surface, said reinforcement device comprising:

a first buttress having a first contact surface adapted to attach to said stapler anvil without use of an adhesive on said first compression surface and said first contact surface;

a second buttress having a second contact surface adapted to attach to said stapler body without use of an adhesive on said second compression surface and said second contact surface; and

wherein the first and second buttresses reinforce said hole created by said stapler in said patient when staples are applied.

27. The reinforcement device of claim 26 further comprising at least one protrusion disruptably connected to said second buttress, said protrusion having an adhesive on at least a portion thereof to attach said second buttress to said stapler body portion.

28. The reinforcement device of claim 27 further comprising a removable covering placed over said adhesive on said protrusion.

29. The reinforcement device of claim 26 further comprising at least one protrusion disruptably connected to said first buttress, said protrusion having an adhesive on at least a portion thereof to attach said first buttress to said stapler anvil portion.

30. The reinforcement device of claim 29 further comprising a removable covering placed over said adhesive on said protrusion.

31. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the stapler includes an anvil that is larger in diameter than the circular hole that is created by the stapler.

32. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially elastic material.

33. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially inelastic material.

34. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the buttress comprises at least one polymeric material.

35. The reinforcement device of claim 34 wherein the polymeric material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

36. The reinforcement device of claim 35 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

37. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the buttress comprises a bioabsorbable material.

38. The reinforcement device of claim 37, wherein the bioabsorbable material comprises a copolymer of poly(glycolide:

trimethylene carbonate).

39. The reinforcement device of claim 26 wherein the buttress includes a filler.

40. The reinforcement device of claim 39 wherein the filler includes a therapeutic agent.

41. The reinforcement device of claim 39 wherein the filler includes a bioactive agent.

42. A reinforcement device comprising:

a circular stapler that is adapted to create a substantially circular hole in a patient, said circular stapler having a stapler anvil compression surface outer diameter, at least one buttress adapted to self align onto the stapler anvil compression surface outer diameter; and

wherein the buttress reinforces the hole created by the stapler in the patient when staples are applied.

43. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the stapler includes an anvil that is larger in diameter than the circular hole that is created by the stapler.

44. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially elastic material.

45. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the buttress comprises an essentially inelastic material.

46. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the buttress comprises at least one polymeric material.

47. The reinforcement device of claim 46 wherein the polymeric material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

48. The reinforcement device of claim 47 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

49. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the buttress comprises a bioabsorbable material.

50. The reinforcement device of claim 49, wherein the bioabsorbable material comprises a copolymer of poly(glycolide:

trimethylene carbonate).

51. The reinforcement device of claim 42 wherein the buttress includes a filler.

52. The reinforcement device of claim 51 wherein the filler includes a therapeutic agent.

53. The reinforcement device of claim 51 wherein the filler includes a bioactive agent.