Abstract: A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of new class of hydrolysable amino acid derivatives and absorbable polyester amides, polyamides, polyepoxides, polyureas and polyurethanes prepared therefrom. The resultant absorbable polymers are useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering, tissue adhesives, adhesion prevention, bone wax formulations, medical device coatings, stents, stent coatings, highly porous foams, reticulated foams, wound care, cardiovascular applications, orthopedic devices, surface modifying agents and other implantable medical devices. In addition, these absorbable polymers should have a controlled degradation profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of new class of hydrolysable amino acid derivatives and absorbable polyester amides, polyamides, polyepoxides, polyureas and polyurethanes prepared therefrom. The resultant absorbable polymers are useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering, tissue adhesives, adhesion prevention, bone wax formulations, medical device coatings, stents, stent coatings, highly porous foams, reticulated foams, wound care, cardiovascular applications, orthopedic devices, surface modifying agents and other implantable medical devices. In addition, these absorbable polymers should have a controlled degradation profile.

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 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. The adhesive includes a bioabsorbable polymer having a block configuration selected from the group consisting of A-B-A and A-B-C. The A block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about 0° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at least about 30%, and a melting temperature of at least about 50° C. The B block is a bioabsorbable homopolymer or co-polymer that is characterized by a glass transition temperature of at least about -40° C., a crystallinity as measured by X-ray diffraction of at most about 25%, and2 a molecular weight of from about 20 to about 80kDa. The C block is a bioabsorbable hydrophilic homopolymer or co-polymer that is miscible with water at 37° C.

Abstract: A buttress is applied to an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress is loaded on a platform of a buttress applier cartridge. The end effector is closed upon the platform. An adhesive layer of the buttress secures the buttress to the end effector. The buttress is thus adhered to the end effector when the end effector is opened. The end effector is then actuated on tissue of a patient, thereby stapling the buttress to the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical stapler end effector comprises a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a buttress assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a deck. The staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position. The anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material is configured to removably secure the buttress body to the deck of the staple cartridge or the underside of the anvil. The adhesive material comprises a malleable bioabsorbable polymer.

Abstract: A surgical stapler end effector assembly comprises a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a buttress assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a deck. The staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position. The anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body, an adhesive material, and a plurality of reinforcement strands. The reinforcement strands are configured to engage one or more staples fired through the buttress body.

Abstract: A surgical stapler end effector comprises a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a buttress assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a deck. The staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position. The anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material comprises a polymer. The polymer is bioabsorbable. The polymer has an inherent viscosity at or below 3.0 dL/g.

Abstract: A surgical stapler end effector comprises a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a buttress assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a deck. The staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position. The anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material comprises a polymer. The polymer is bioabsorbable. The polymer has glass transition temperature (Tg) at or below 0° 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of new class of hydrolysable amino acid derivatives and absorbable polyester amides, polyamides, polyepoxides, polyureas and polyurethanes prepared therefrom. The resultant absorbable polymers are useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering, tissue adhesives, adhesion prevention, bone wax formulations, medical device coatings, stents, stent coatings, highly porous foams, reticulated foams, wound care, cardiovascular applications, orthopedic devices, surface modifying agents and other implantable medical devices. In addition, these absorbable polymers should have a controlled degradation profile.

Abstract: Described are novel ricinoleic acid/12-hydroxy stearic acid-based diisocyanates, which are useful as monomers to form polymers, which have applications inter alia as medical devices.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a hydrophillic agent embedded therein.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a hydrophobic agent embedded therein.

Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator can comprise a plurality of layers. Various embodiments are disclosed herein for manufacturing a tissue thickness compensator. In certain embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise at least one medicament tube, capsule, and/or packet contained therein.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel bioabsorbable and biodegradable monomer compounds, bioabsorbable and biodegradable polymers therefrom, and methods of making such monomers and polymers, which are useful in pharmaceutical delivery systems, tissue engineering applications, tissue adhesives products, implantable medical devices, foams and reticulated foams for wound healing and drug delivery, bone hemostats and bone void fillers, adhesion prevention barriers, meshes, filters, stents, medical device coatings, pharmaceutical drug formulations, consumer product and cosmetic and pharmaceutical packaging, apparel, infusion devices, blood collection tubes and devices, other medical tubes, skin care products, and transdermal drug delivery materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of new class of linear and multiarmed hydrolysable linkers and cross linkers for use in the synthesis of biodegradable polymers such as, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyureas and degradable epoxy amine resin. The linear and multiarmed hydrolysable linkers of the present invention include symmetrical and/or unsymmetrical ether carboxylic acids, amines, amide diols, amine polyols and isocyanates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of new class of linear and multiarmed hydrolysable linkers and cross linkers for use in the synthesis of biodegradable polymers such as, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyureas and degradable epoxy amine resin. The linear and multiarmed hydrolysable linkers of the present invention include symmetrical and/or unsymmetrical ether carboxylic acids, amines, amide diols, amine polyols and isocyanates.

Abstract: Described are novel bio-based bioabsorbable/non-absorbable and biodegradable monomer compounds, bioabsorbable and biodegradable polymers therefrom, and methods of making such monomers and polymers, which are useful inter alia as medical devices, implantable or otherwise.