Buttress systems and methods for surgical stapling devices and end effectors

An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the end effector comprising:

• (a) an anvil comprising a first end, a second end, and an anvil face;
• (b) a cartridge comprising a first end, a second end, and a cartridge face, the cartridge housing a plurality of staples, wherein the first end of the anvil is coupled with the first end of the cartridge and the second end of the anvil is coupled to the second end of the cartridge;
• (c) a cord;
• and
• (d) a buttress, the buttress comprising;
• (i) a first buttress member, the first buttress member being coupled with the anvil face such that the first buttress member covers a portion of the anvil face;
• and
• (ii) a second buttress member, the second buttress member being coupled with the cartridge face such that the second buttress member covers a portion of the anvil face,
• wherein at least one of the first buttress member or the second buttress member includes a plurality of plurality of loops, each of the plurality of loops defining a channel sized to receive the cord;
• wherein at least one of the anvil or the cartridge includes a plurality of cord supports, the cord is threaded through the plurality of loops distally along a first side and a second side of the end effector and attaches the first buttress member or the second buttress member to the plurality of cord supports, and the cord does not extend between the cartridge face and the anvil face when the end effector is in a closed position.

An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the end effector comprising:

• (a) an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and an anvil face positionable on the first side of the anatomical structure;
• (b) a cartridge housing a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising a first end, a second end, and a cartridge face positionable on the second side of the anatomical structure, wherein the first end of the cartridge is coupled with the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge is coupled with the second end of the anvil;
• (c) a blade, the blade comprising a cutting surface, wherein the blade is engageable with the anvil and the cartridge;
• (d) a cord;
• and
• (e) a buttress, the buttress being a planar section of material coupled with the anvil face or the cartridge face and including a plurality of loops, each of the plurality of loops defining a channel sized to receive the cord;
• wherein at least one of the anvil or the cartridge includes a plurality of cord supports, the cord is threaded through the plurality of loops distally along a first side and a second side of the end effector and attaches the buttress to the plurality of cord supports, and the cord does not extend between the cartridge face and the anvil face when the end effector is in a closed position.

An end effector comprising:

• (a) a first jaw having a first end, a second end, an anvil having an anvil face, and a first channel;
• (b) a second jaw having a first end, a second end, a cartridge having a cartridge face, and a second channel;
• (c) a first coupling that couples the first end of the first jaw to the first end of the second jaw;
• (d) a second coupling that couples the second end of the first jaw to the second end of the second jaw;
• (e) an I-shaped blade, the I-shaped blade comprising;
• (i) a blade portion having a cutting edge;
• (ii) at least one upper portion, wherein the at least one upper portion is slidably positioned in the first channel;
• and
• (iii) at least one lower portion, wherein the at least one lower portion is slidably positioned in the second channel;
• (f) a cord;
• and
• (g) a buttress, the buttress being a planar section of material coupled with the anvil face or the cartridge face and including a plurality of loops, each of the plurality of loops defining a channel sized to receive the cord;
• wherein at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw includes a plurality of cord supports, the cord is threaded through the plurality of loops distally along a first side and a second side of the end effector and attaches the buttress to the plurality of cord supports, and the cord does not extend between the cartridge face and the anvil face when the end effector is in a closed position.