Abstract: A buttress assembly is configured to temporarily adhere to a wet surgical stapler end effector. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a humidity tolerant adhesive material. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is applied to at least one side of the buttress body. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is configured to hold the buttress body to an underside of an anvil or a deck of a staple cartridge for at least five minutes in an environment of 100% relative humidity at approximately 37° C.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector comprises positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge. The anvil is in an open position relative to the staple cartridge during the act of positioning the buttress assembly between the anvil and the staple cartridge. The method further comprises moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge then moving the anvil back to the open position. The buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position. The adhesive material comprises a bioabsorbable polymer.