Structure for attaching buttress to anvil and/or cartridge of surgical stapling instrument
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorErnie Aranyi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector of a surgical stapler includes first and second jaw members and a buttress releasably secured to the first jaw member. The first jaw member defines a first projection and a second projection distal of the first projection. The buttress defines a first slot and a first aperture distal of the first slot. The first slot is dimensioned to receive the first projection of the first jaw member, and the first aperture is dimensioned to receive the second projection of the first jaw member.
Claims18
An end effector of a surgical stapler comprising:
- first and second jaw members, the first jaw member moveable relative to the second jaw member, the first jaw member including a first projection and a second projection distal of the first projection, wherein the second projection is configured to flex relative to the first jaw member;
- and
- a buttress transitionable between an unexpanded state and an expanded state and defining a first slot at a proximal portion thereof and a first aperture distal of the first slot, the first slot dimensioned to receive the first projection of the first jaw member, the first aperture dimensioned to receive the second projection of the first jaw member, the first aperture positioned on the buttress to receive the second projection when the buttress is in the expanded state, wherein at least one of the first or second projections of the first jaw member has a securing portion configured to detachably support the buttress, wherein flexing of the second projection exerts a force on the buttress to maintain the buttress taught.
An end effector of a surgical stapler comprising:
- first and second jaw members, the first jaw member moveable relative to the second jaw member, the second jaw member including:
- a finger extending from a surface of the second jaw member, the finger extending proximally outward from the surface and defining a gap with the surface;
- and
- a projection distal of the finger, wherein the projection extends proximally and is configured to flex relative to the second jaw member;
- and
- a buttress defining a first slot and a second slot distal of the first slot, the first slot dimensioned to receive the finger of the second jaw member and the second slot dimensioned to receive the projection of the second jaw member, wherein the flexing of the projection exerts a force on the buttress to maintain the buttress taught.
A method of securing a buttress to a jaw member of an end effector of a surgical stapler, the method comprising:
- locating at least a first slot of the buttress onto a first projection extending from the jaw of the end effector, the buttress made at least in part of an elastic material;
- and
- locating at least a first aperture of the buttress onto a second projection extending from the jaw of the end effector, the second projection being distal of the first projection, wherein the buttress is stretched between the first projection and the second projection, wherein the second projection is configured to flex to maintain the buttress stretched between the first projection and the second projection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.