Stapling Support Structures

• US 20080140115A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stopek, Joshua B.
• Application Number:
  US11/660,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/048 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/129 containing macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to support structures for surgical staplers comprising at least on hydrophilic polymer and methods for preparing such structures.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a support structure made from at least one hydrophilic polymer, the support structure being adapted and configured for use in connection with a surgical stapler.

2. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the at least one hydrophilic polymer comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, potassium sulfopropylacrylate, potassium sulfopropylmethacrylate, acrylamide, dimethylacrylamide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, biocompatible water-soluble vinyl monomers and combinations thereof.

3. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the at least one hydrophilic polymer is poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

4. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of initiators, crosslinkers, plasticizers, biological agents and combinations thereof.

5. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 to about 5 mm.

6. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure has a generally rectangular shape.

7. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure has a generally annular shape.

8. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises polymeric phospholipids on a surface of the support structure.

9. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises at least one medically useful substance.

10. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises at least one medically useful substance is selected from the group consisting of drugs, enzymes, growth factors, peptides, proteins, dyes, diagnostic agents, hemostasis agents, and combinations thereof.

11. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises an adhesive coating.

12. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises a fibrous reinforcing element.

13. The support structure of claim 12 wherein the fibrous reinforcing element comprises a woven, knit, or non-woven structure.

14. A medical device as in claim 1 wherein the support structure further comprises a reservoir containing a substance selected from the group consisting of biological adhesives, sealants, hemostats, wound closure materials and combinations thereof.

15. A method for preparing a support structure for surgical staplers comprising:

introducing a composition comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer in a mold;

at least partially polymerizing the composition in the mold; and

removing the support structure form the mold.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the step of at least partially polymerizing the composition comprises using gamma radiation, UV radiation, or conventional chemical initiated free radical polymerization.

17. A method as in claim 15 wherein a composition comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, potassium sulfopropylacrylate, potassium sulfopropylmethacrylate, acrylamide, dimethylacrylamide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, biocompatible water-soluble vinyl monomers and combinations thereof is introduced into a mold.

18. A method as in claim 15 wherein a composition comprising polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate is introduced into a mold.

19. A method as in claim 15 wherein a composition comprising at least one an additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of initiators, a crosslinkers, plasticizers, biological agents and combinations thereof is introduced into a mold.

20. A method as in claim 15 wherein a composition comprising at least one medically useful substance is introduced into a mold.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the at least one medically useful substance is selected from the group consisting of drugs, enzymes, growth factors, peptides, proteins, dyes, diagnostic agents, hemostasis agents, and combinations thereof.

22. A method as in claim 15 further comprising introducing a fibrous reinforcing element into the mold.

23. A method as in claim 15 wherein the composition is introduced into a generally rectangular mold.

24. A method as in claim 15 wherein the composition is introduced into a generally annular mold.

25. A method comprising

positioning a support structure made from at least one hydrophilic polymer adjacent a tissue contacting surface of a surgical stapler;

and

firing the surgical stapler to drive staples through the support structure and tissue, whereby the support structure is secured to the tissue by the staples.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein the support structure is positioned adjacent an anvil of a surgical stapler.

27. A method as in claim 25 wherein the support structure is positioned adjacent a staple cartridge of a surgical stapler.

28. A method as in claim 25 wherein the at least one hydrophilic polymer comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, potassium sulfopropylacrylate, potassium sulfopropylmethacrylate, acrylamide, dimethylacrylamide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, biocompatible water-soluble vinyl monomers and combinations thereof.

29. A method as in claim 25 wherein the at least one hydrophilic polymer comprises hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

30. A method as in claim 25 wherein the support structure further comprises a fibrous reinforcement element.

31. A method as in claim 25 wherein the support structure further comprises a reservoir containing a substance selected from the group consisting of biological adhesives, sealants, hemostats, wound closure materials and combinations thereof.