Retainer assembly including a tissue thickness compensator

• US 9,883,861 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Schmid, Katherine J., Morgan, Jerome R., Korvick, Donna L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US14/746,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761, 2271801, 606151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• 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 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 : pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part

Abstract

A retainer for assembling tissue thickness compensators to a surgical stapler can comprise a grip, a first surface for supporting a first tissue thickness compensator, a second surface for supporting a second tissue thickness compensator, and clips for aligning and attaching the retainer to the surgical stapler. The clips may align and attach the retainer to a staple cartridge of the surgical instrument. The clips may align the retainer with an anvil of the surgical instrument. An insertion tool may be used in combination with the retainer to insert the retainer into the surgical stapler and to push the tissue thickness compensators against the anvil and/or the staple cartridge of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A stapling system for stapling tissue, comprising:

a cartridge, comprising;

a deck;

staple cavities defined in said deck; and

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said anvil comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a firing member of a surgical instrument; and

an applicator, comprising;

a handle attachable to said cartridge;

a laminate scaffold, comprising;

a film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said film mesh layer to said anvil; and

a centrally-disposed alignment feature configured to align said laminate scaffold relative to said anvil,

wherein said applicator is configured to apply said laminate scaffold to the surgical instrument, and wherein said alignment feature is configured to be received in said longitudinal slot when said laminate scaffold is applied to the surgical instrument.

2. The stapling system of claim 1, wherein said applicator further comprises a second laminate scaffold, comprising:

a second film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said second film mesh layer to said cartridge.

3. A stapling system for use with a surgical instrument including an anvil, said stapling system comprising:

a cartridge, comprising;

a deck;

staple cavities defined in said deck; and

staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and

an applicator, comprising;

an attachment portion releasably engaged with said cartridge;

a support comprising a first side and a second side, wherein said cartridge is releasably held on said first side by said attachment portion; and

a laminate scaffold releasably held on said second side, wherein said laminate scaffold comprises;

a film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said film mesh layer to the anvil,

wherein said applicator is configured to apply said laminate scaffold and said cartridge to the surgical instrument.

4. The stapling system of claim 3, wherein said applicator further comprises a second laminate scaffold, comprising:

a second film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said second film mesh layer to said cartridge.

5. A layer applicator for use with an end effector including a staple cartridge and an anvil, said layer applicator comprising:

an attachment portion releasably engageable with one of the staple cartridge and the anvil;

a support comprising a first side and a second side;

a first laminate scaffold releasably held on said first side, wherein said first laminate scaffold comprises;

a first film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said film mesh layer to the anvil;

a second laminate scaffold releasably held on said second side, wherein said second laminate scaffold comprises;

a second film mesh layer;

a fibrous polyglactin layer; and

a polyethylene glycol absorbable polymer adhesive for releasably holding said second film mesh layer to the staple cartridge; and

at least one flexible arm configured to;

releasably hold said first laminate scaffold to said first side of said support;

align said first laminate scaffold relative to the anvil during the application of said first laminate scaffold and said second laminate scaffold to the end effector; and

flex away from said first laminate scaffold during the disengagement of said attachment portion from the end effector,

wherein said layer applicator is configured to apply said first laminate scaffold and said second laminate scaffold to the end effector.