# US 10,478,280 B2 · Methods and devices for delivering and securing adjunct materials to a treatment site > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,280 B2 - Document ID: US10478280B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/435,955 - Filed: 2017-02-17 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-17 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Vendely; Charles J. Scheib; Susanne Landgrebe; Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Susan Cooper; Dennis D. Jamiolkowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478280B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/0063: {Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes} - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets} - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 2017/005: {hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound} - A61F 2002/0072: {Delivery tools therefor} - A61M 35/003: {Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media (hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Devices and methods for placing an adjunct at a tissue treatment site prior to delivering staples through the tissue and adjunct are provided. In one embodiment, a flowable adjunct precursor can be deposited on the surface of the tissue at the tissue treatment site. The flowable adjunct precursor can be configured to solidify after deposition to form an adjunct. In another embodiment, an adjunct delivery device can include a non-stapling end effector configured to deliver an adjunct to a tissue treatment site. In either case, staples can be delivered through the adjunct and tissue after placement of the adjunct at the tissue treatment site. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for stapling tissue, comprising: activating an applicator to deliver a flowable adjunct precursor to a tissue within a body cavity with the applicator; and after the flowable adjunct precursor solidifies to form an adjunct, engaging the tissue and the adjunct with opposed jaws on an end effector of a surgical stapling device, and actuating the surgical stapling device to deliver at least one staple through the adjunct and the tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a tubular shaft in fluid communication with a reservoir containing the flowable adjunct precursor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a brush that contains the adjunct precursor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjunct precursor is solidified by at least one of moistening the adjunct precursor, heating the adjunct precursor, cooling the adjunct precursor, exposing the adjunct precursor to light energy, applying a co-reactant to the adjunct precursor, and waiting a selected time duration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjunct precursor is applied to opposed sides of the tissue at approximately the same location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjunct precursor is applied to a first side of the tissue, and further comprising applying a solid adjunct, different from the adjunct precursor, to a second side of the tissue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a mesh including a co-reactant over the adjunct precursor applied to the tissue prior to solidification. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the co-reactant catalyzes solidification of the adjunct precursor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flowable adjunct precursor is a biologically compatible heterogeneous mixture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the biologically compatible heterogeneous mixture includes one or more solid components and one or more solvents. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising, after activating the applicator and before delivering the at least one staple, heating the adjunct precursor to cause the one or more solvents to substantially evaporate and solidify the adjunct precursor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flowable adjunct precursor is a biologically compatible chemical composition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of heating the composition, exposing the composition to light energy, and applying one or more co-reactants to the composition.