Method for releasing buttress material attached to a surgical fastening device

• US 6,503,257 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Patel, Sudhir B., Grant, Richard L., McMillen, Troy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr., Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/850,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 606/76, 606/77, 606/220, 606/232, 606/151, 606/148, 606/149, 606/150, 606/156, 623/11, 623/2, 602/48, 602/50, 600/36, 600/37
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

A method for releasing buttress material from a stapling instrument when the buttress is attached to the instrument by an adhesive is disclosed. The method includes providing stapling instrument comprising first and a second opposed tissue clamping members movable between an open position, for receiving tissue therebetween, and a closed position for stapling tissue therebetween. At least one of the first and second clamping members houses a plurality of staples, and a strip of buttress material is releasably attached to the first tissue clamping member by an adhesive. The method then involves moving the instrument to its open position and inserting tissue between the clamping members. Thereafter, the method involves releasing the buttress material from attachment to the first clamping member by closing the instrument and stapling the buttress material to the tissue. Whereby the movement of the staples breaks the adhesive bond and releases the buttress material from the first clamping member.

Claims

1. A method for releasing buttress material from a stapling instrument when the buttress is attached to the instrument by an adhesive, said method comprising:

a. providing stapling instrument comprising first and a second opposed tissue clamping members movable between an open position, for receiving tissue therebetween, and a closed position, for stapling tissue therebetween, at least one of said first and second clamping members housing a plurality of staples, wherein a strip of buttress material is releasably attached to said first tissue clamping member by an adhesive;

b. moving said instrument to its open position and inserting tissue between said clamping members; and

c. releasing said buttress material from adhesive attachment to said first clamping member by closing said instrument and stapling said buttress material to said tissue, whereby the movement of said staples breaks said adhesive bond and releases said buttress material from said first clamping member, and thereafter opening said instrument.