Malleable bioabsorbable polymer adhesive for releasably attaching a staple buttress to a surgical stapler

A surgical stapler end effector, the end effector comprising:

• (a) a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:
• (i) a plurality of staples, and
• (ii) a deck, wherein the staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck;
• (b) an anvil, wherein the anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position, wherein the anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck;
• and
• (c) a buttress assembly, wherein the buttress assembly comprises:
• (i) a buttress body comprising a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge define a first width therebetween,
• (ii) a layer of adhesive material on a surface of the buttress assembly, wherein the layer of adhesive material comprises a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge, wherein the third lateral edge and the fourth lateral edge define a second width therebetween, wherein the adhesive material is configured to removably secure the buttress assembly to the deck of the staple cartridge or the underside of the anvil, wherein the adhesive material comprises a polymer, wherein the polymer is malleable, wherein the polymer is bioabsorbable, and
• (iii) an intermediate layer interposed between the buttress body and the layer of adhesive material;
• wherein the first width and the second width are equal.

A surgical stapler end effector, the end effector comprising:

• (a) a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:
• (i) a plurality of staples, and
• (ii) a deck, wherein the staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck;
• (b) an anvil, wherein the anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position, wherein the anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck;
• (c) a buttress assembly, wherein the buttress assembly comprises:
• (i) a buttress body, and
• (ii) an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material is configured to removably secure the buttress body to the deck of the staple cartridge or the underside of the anvil;
• and
• (d) a retainer, wherein the retainer comprises:
• (i) a holding surface configured to hold the buttress assembly, and
• (ii) a plurality of protruding members on the holding surface, wherein the protruding members are configured to provide focused pressure in a direction perpendicular to and away from the holding surface against discrete regions of the adhesive material to thereby drive the discrete regions of the adhesive material into engagement with the deck of the staple cartridge or the underside of the anvil.