PACKAGING FOR ATTACHING BUTTRESS MATERIAL TO A SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• US 20090206125A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Huitema, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US12/031,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/005 hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00951 adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/002 having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40

Abstract

A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.

Claims

1. A package assembly, wherein the package assembly is configured to apply a piece of buttress material to one of an anvil and a staple cartridge of an end-effector, the package assembly comprising:

the piece of buttress material;

a first adhesive on said piece of buttress material;

a package portion including a handle portion; and

a second adhesive for releasably retaining said piece of buttress material to said package portion, wherein said first adhesive can be placed in contact with said one of an anvil and a staple cartridge, and wherein a force can be applied to said handle portion to remove said package portion from said piece of buttress material.

2. The package assembly of claim 1, wherein said package portion is a foldable sheet.

3. The package assembly of claim 1, wherein said package portion further comprises:

a first portion in contact with said piece of buttress material; and

at least one perforation intermediate said first portion and said handle portion, wherein said perforation is configured to allow said handle portion to be separated from said first portion.

4. The package assembly of claim 3, further comprising a string attached to said handle portion, wherein said string is configured to detach said handle portion from said first portion when a force is applied thereto.

5. A package assembly, wherein the package assembly is configured to apply a piece of buttress material to one of an anvil and a staple cartridge of an end-effector, the package assembly comprising:

the piece of buttress material;

a first package portion configured to releasably retain the piece of buttress material thereto; and

a second package portion movable relative to said first package portion between a first position and a second position, wherein said second portion is configured to be positioned one of adjacent to or in contact with said piece of buttress material in said first position, and wherein said second portion is configured to be moved away from said piece of buttress material when said second portion is moved into said second position such that said piece of buttress material can be positioned adjacent to said one of an anvil and a staple cartridge.

6. The package assembly of claim 5, wherein the anvil is configured be closed onto the package assembly such that said buttress material is placed in contact with said one of an anvil and a staple cartridge.

7. The package assembly of claim 6, wherein said buttress material can include an adhesive thereon such that said piece of buttress of material is adhered to said one of an anvil and a staple cartridge after the anvil is closed.

8. The package assembly of claim 7, wherein said adhesive is inert until pressure is applied to said adhesive, and wherein said anvil can apply said pressure when it is closed.

9. The package assembly of claim 6, wherein said second portion is configured such that a force can be applied thereto and the first portion can be removed from said piece of buttress material.

10. The package assembly of claim 6, wherein said first and second package portions comprise a foldable sheet.

11. The package assembly of claim 6, wherein said piece of buttress material includes a face, and wherein said face includes an adhesive thereon configured to releasably retain said piece of buttress material to said one of an anvil and a staple cartridge.

12. The package assembly of claim 11, further comprising a sheet configured to cover said adhesive on said piece of buttress material such that said buttress material can be positioned against one of the anvil and the staple cartridge without adhering thereto.

13. An applicator assembly for applying a piece of buttress material to an end-effector of a surgical instrument, the applicator assembly comprising:

the piece of buttress material;

an applicator, wherein said piece of buttress material is removably attached to said applicator; and

a string operably attached to said applicator, wherein said applicator is configured to be detached from the piece of buttress material by applying a force to said string.

14. The applicator assembly of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said string is positioned intermediate said applicator and said piece of buttress material.

15. The applicator assembly of claim 13, wherein said applicator is configured to be removed from said piece of buttress material after said piece of buttress material is releasably engaged with the end-effector.

16. A piece of buttress material for use with an end-effector of a surgical instrument, the piece of buttress material comprising:

a first portion configured to be releasably engaged with the end-effector;

a second portion removably attached to said first portion; and

a string operably attached to said second portion, wherein said string is configured to remove said second portion from said first portion when a force is applied to said string.

17. The piece of buttress material of claim 16, wherein said second portion is configured to be removed from said first portion after said first portion is releasably engaged with the end-effector.

18. The piece of buttress material of claim 16, further comprising a cavity defined intermediate said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said string is at least partially positioned within said cavity.