Circular stapler and staple line reinforcement material

• US 9,016,544 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2014
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hodgkinson, Gerald, Stevenson, Richard, Whiffen, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/331,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/68 by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers , e.g. foam blocks mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge assembly having a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots and an anvil assembly having a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses. The staple cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly, or both have one or more attachment members overmolded thereon. A staple line reinforcement material is attached to the attachment members.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a surgical stapling instrument, the method comprising:

providing a staple cartridge assembly having a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of rows of staple receiving slots therein;

providing an anvil assembly including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of rows of staple forming recesses therein;

providing an attachment member fabricated from a polymeric material;

overmolding the attachment member onto the tissue contacting surface of at least one of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly;

providing staple line reinforcement material; and

securing the staple line reinforcement material to the attachment member.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming recesses in the tissue contacting surface of at least one of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly prior to overmolding, wherein the attachment member is disposed in the recesses.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric material is plastic.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising releasably attaching the staple line reinforcement material to the attachment member by ultrasonic welding.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the staple line reinforcement material defines perforations therein, the method further including disposing the staple line reinforcement material such that the perforations are adjacent the attachment member.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disposing the attachment member on the staple cartridge assembly at a location outwardly of the rows of staple receiving slots.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disposing the attachment member on the anvil assembly at a location outwardly of the rows of staple forming recesses.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disposing the attachment member between adjacent staple forming recesses of the anvil assembly.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disposing the attachment member between adjacent staple receiving slots of the staple cartridge assembly.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surgical stapling instrument is a circular stapler.