Surgical stapler buttress assembly with adhesion to wet end effector

A method of applying a buttress to a wet surgical stapler end effector with a humidity tolerant adhesive, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises:
• (i) a buttress body, and
• (ii) a humidity tolerant adhesive material comprising a block copolymer of polyethylene glycol and poly(caprolactone)-glycolide copolymer,
• wherein the humidity tolerant adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge,
• wherein 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;
• (b) moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge;
• and
• (c) moving the anvil back to the open position, wherein the buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the humidity tolerant adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position,
• wherein the humidity tolerant adhesive material holds the buttress body to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge.

A method of applying a buttress to a wet surgical stapler end effector with a humidity tolerant adhesive, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a buttress assembly between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector, wherein the buttress assembly comprises:
• (i) a buttress body, and
• (ii) a humidity tolerant adhesive material comprising a blend of polyethylene-polyethylene glycol copolymers and poly(caprolactone)-glycolide copolymers,
• wherein the humidity tolerant adhesive material faces either an underside of the anvil or a deck of the staple cartridge,
• wherein 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;
• (b) moving the anvil toward the staple cartridge;
• and
• (c) moving the anvil back to the open position, wherein the buttress assembly is adhered to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge via the humidity tolerant adhesive material with the anvil moved back to the open position,
• wherein the humidity tolerant adhesive material holds the buttress body to the underside of the anvil or the deck of the staple cartridge.