Abstract: A hybrid attachment mechanism is provided to attach an adjunct to an end effector jaw of a surgical instrument, such as a surgical stapler. The hybrid attachment mechanism can include at least two attachment mechanisms, each configured to inhibit at least one manner of detachment from the end effector jaw. A first attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit vertical removal of the adjunct. A second attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit sliding of the adjunct with respect to the jaw. A third attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit curling of the adjunct upon itself. Each of the attachment mechanisms can operate in concert with the others, allowing the hybrid attachment mechanism to simultaneously inhibit multiple forms of adjunct detachment. The hybrid attachment mechanism can be further configured to decouple from the end effector jaw, permitting deployment of the adjunct at a treatment site.

Abstract: Methods for applying one or more adjuncts to tissue are provided. In one embodiment, the method can include positioning an adjunct, e.g., using an adhesive, on one of first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler. In one embodiment, an attachment mechanism on the adjunct can prevent stretching of at least a portion of the adjunct. In other aspects, the adjunct can be maintained on the at least one jaw in a first state in which the adjunct is at least partially stretched over the at least one jaw, and actuation of the surgical stapler can cause the adjunct to transition from the first state to a second state such that the adjunct in the second state at least partially separates from the at least one jaw.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The includes a power source, while the shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is capable of electrically coupling the power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an insulating membrane. The first electrical contact is associated with the channel assembly while the second electrical contact is associated with the cartridge assembly. The insulating membrane is associated with either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an adjunct from a jaw of an end effector of a surgical stapling device are provided. The end effector, including first and second jaws configured to clamp tissue therebetween, include an adjunct material releasably retained on at least one of the jaws. The end effector also includes a firing bar configured to move between an unfired position at a proximal end of the end effector and a fired position at a distal end of the end effector. An adjunct removal assembly that can reside in the jaw is configured to couple to and move with the firing bar to separate the adjunct material from the surgical stapling device as the firing bar having the adjunct removal assembly coupled thereto is returned from the fired position to the unfired position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for releasably coupling an adjunct material to an end effector for a surgical instrument are provided. The adjunct can be configured to be releasably retained on a jaw, such as a cartridge or anvil, using a contractible attachment feature configured to be transitioned from an original, non-contracted configuration to a contracted configuration under application of heat. The attachment feature, such as one or more strands of a shrinkable polymer, can be engaged with the adjunct, and contraction of the attachment feature is effective to couple the adjunct with retaining members formed on the jaw. Another type of an adjunct has at least one portion configured to be reversibly stretched using application of a force such that, when the force is removed, the portion transitions from a stretched configuration to a contracted configuration and thereby causes the adjunct to be engaged with retaining members formed on the jaw.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has a first jaw, such as a cartridge body, having on a tissue-contacting surface thereof a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein, and a second jaw, such as an anvil, with a plurality of staple forming cavities formed on a tissue-contacting surface thereof. The first jaw has a generally rectangular nominal perimeter defining a regular perimeter around outer rows of the plurality of staple cavities. At least one of the first and second jaws has extension elements extending beyond the nominal perimeter of that jaw such that each of the extension elements has at least one attachment feature formed thereon. An adjunct material having a shape complementary to a shape of the jaw is configured to releasably mate with the attachment features formed on the jaw, via corresponding adjunct's mating features.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The includes a power source, while the shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is capable of electrically coupling the power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an insulating membrane. The first electrical contact is associated with the channel assembly while the second electrical contact is associated with the cartridge assembly. The insulating membrane is associated with either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a frame for attaching an adjunct to an end effector of a surgical device are provided. In one embodiment, the end effector can include upper and lower jaws, and the frame can include features for releasably engaging one or the jaws. The frame can also include retaining features for coupling an adjunct to a tissue-facing surface of the frame, thereby releasably coupling the adjunct material to the jaw of the end effector. In some implementations, the frame can include a plurality of retaining features that are configured to engage the adjunct material to create a tension in the adjunct material, which can further assist with securing the frame to the jaw. In other embodiments, a removable applicator member is provided for retaining at least one adjunct material and for aligning and coupling the adjunct material to a frame.

Abstract: Methods for applying one or more adjuncts to tissue are provided. In one embodiment, the method can include positioning an adjunct, e.g., using an adhesive, on one of first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler. In one embodiment, an attachment mechanism on the adjunct can prevent stretching of at least a portion of the adjunct. In other aspects, the adjunct can be maintained on the at least one jaw in a first state in which the adjunct is at least partially stretched over the at least one jaw, and actuation of the surgical stapler can cause the adjunct to transition from the first state to a second state such that the adjunct in the second state at least partially separates from the at least one jaw.

Abstract: Various buttress loaders are provided for cleaning and affixing one or more buttresses to an end effector of a surgical stapler. In an exemplary embodiment, a buttress loader can be configured to clean at least one tissue-engaging surface of an end effector on a surgical stapler, and the buttress loader can be configured to attach a buttress to the at least one tissue-engaging surface of the end effector. For example, a buttress loader can have two slots configured to receive the end effector therein. One slot can be configured to clean the end effector, and the other slot can be configured to attach the buttress to the end effector.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has a first jaw, such as a cartridge body, having on a tissue-contacting surface thereof a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein, and a second jaw, such as an anvil, with a plurality of staple forming cavities formed on a tissue-contacting surface thereof. The first jaw has a generally rectangular nominal perimeter defining a regular perimeter around outer rows of the plurality of staple cavities. At least one of the first and second jaws has extension elements extending beyond the nominal perimeter of that jaw such that each of the extension elements has at least one attachment feature formed thereon. An adjunct material having a shape complementary to a shape of the jaw is configured to releasably mate with the attachment features formed on the jaw, via corresponding adjunct's mating features.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an adjunct from a jaw of an end effector of a surgical stapling device are provided. The end effector, including first and second jaws configured to clamp tissue therebetween, include an adjunct material releasably retained on at least one of the jaws. The end effector also includes a firing bar configured to move between an unfired position at a proximal end of the end effector and a fired position at a distal end of the end effector. An adjunct removal assembly that can reside in the jaw is configured to couple to and move with the firing bar to separate the adjunct material from the surgical stapling device as the firing bar having the adjunct removal assembly coupled thereto is returned from the fired position to the unfired position.

Abstract: A hybrid attachment mechanism is provided to attach an adjunct to an end effector jaw of a surgical instrument, such as a surgical stapler. The hybrid attachment mechanism can include at least two attachment mechanisms, each configured to inhibit at least one manner of detachment from the end effector jaw. A first attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit vertical removal of the adjunct. A second attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit sliding of the adjunct with respect to the jaw. A third attachment mechanism can be configured to inhibit curling of the adjunct upon itself. Each of the attachment mechanisms can operate in concert with the others, allowing the hybrid attachment mechanism to simultaneously inhibit multiple forms of adjunct detachment. The hybrid attachment mechanism can be further configured to decouple from the end effector jaw, permitting deployment of the adjunct at a treatment site.

Abstract: Systems and methods for releasably coupling an adjunct material to an end effector for a surgical instrument are provided. The adjunct can be configured to be releasably retained on a jaw, such as a cartridge or anvil, using a contractible attachment feature configured to be transitioned from an original, non-contracted configuration to a contracted configuration under application of heat. The attachment feature, such as one or more strands of a shrinkable polymer, can be engaged with the adjunct, and contraction of the attachment feature is effective to couple the adjunct with retaining members formed on the jaw. Another type of an adjunct has at least one portion configured to be reversibly stretched using application of a force such that, when the force is removed, the portion transitions from a stretched configuration to a contracted configuration and thereby causes the adjunct to be engaged with retaining members formed on the jaw.

Abstract: An adjunct loading system is provided that can include at least one adjunct material configured to be transferred from an adjunct loading member to first and second jaws of an end effector. The loading system can also include a supporting member configured to releasably retain the adjunct material. The loading system can further include an adhesive depot having an adhesive configured to transition from a non-flowable state to a flowable state upon application of heat when the adjunct material is released from the adjunct loading member and transferred to the jaw to retain the adjunct material on the jaw. The adjunct material is released from the adjunct loading member when load is applied thereto. The adhesive depot can be in the form of an adhesive feature formed on a polymer attachment layer or in the form of reservoirs in the supporting member.

Abstract: An adjunct material for use with an end effector in a surgical instrument is provided that has at least one projection configured to mate with a corresponding recess formed in at least one jaw, such as a cartridge or anvil, of the end effector. The at least one projection can be one or more discrete projections or longitudinal projection(s) extending between distal and proximal ends of the adjunct material. An applicator member can be used to apply force to the adjunct material to thus cause the adjunct material to mate with the jaw of the end effector. The applicator member can be configured told the adjunct material and can be clamped between the jaws of the end effector to release the adjunct material onto the jaw. Also, an applicator member can be used to push portions of an adjunct material into corresponding recesses in a jaw.