# US 11,992,216 B2 · Surgical stapler with end effector coating

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- Number: US 11,992,216 B2
- Document ID: US11992216B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/985,441
- Filed: 2022-11-11
- Published: 2023-03-09
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-13
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Thomas W. Huitema; Xintian Ming; Tamara S. Widenhouse; Frederick E. Shelton, IV
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992216B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets}
- A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61L 31/06: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds {(A61L31/041 takes precedence)}
- A61L 31/10: Macromolecular materials
- A61L 31/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials}
- A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/064: Surgical staples, {i.e. penetrating the tissue}
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing}
- A61B 2017/00884: {enhancing wound closure}
- A61B 2017/00893: {pharmaceutically effective}
- A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder}
- A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter}
- A61L 2420/02: Methods for coating medical devices
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for promoting wound healing. In general, surgical staplers and stapler components are provided having a coating thereon that is configured to selectively control an interaction between at least one matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor and an outer surface of the stapler or stapler component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A staple assembly, comprising:
a surgical stapler;
a staple cartridge loadable into the surgical stapler, the staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples each configured to be actuated by the surgical stapler to be implanted into tissue;
an absorbable polymer selectively applied to a first portion of each of the staples in the plurality of staples; and
a lubricant selectively applied to a second portion of each of the staples in the plurality of staples.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The staple assembly of claim 1, wherein the absorbable polymer has a substantially-permanent ionic charge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The staple assembly of claim 2, wherein the substantially-permanent ionic charge is configured to attract cells of the tissue to accelerate a healing process.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The staple assembly of claim 2, wherein a positively-charged initiator molecule inducing a ring opening polymerization of at least one cyclic monomer is configured to create the substantially-permanent ionic charge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The staple assembly of claim 1, wherein the absorbable polymer and the lubricant at least partially overlap one another on each staple in the plurality of staples.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The staple assembly of claim 1 further comprising an MMP inhibitor selectively applied to the first portion of each of the staples in the plurality of staples, wherein the absorbable polymer is configured to minimize adhesion of the MMP inhibitor to the first portion of the staples in the plurality of staples.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The staple assembly of claim 1, wherein the absorbable polymer comprises a non-synthetic material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The staple assembly of claim 7, wherein the non-synthetic material is selected from the group consisting of lyophilized polysaccharide, glycoprotein, bovine pericardium, collagen, gelatin, fibrin, fibrinogen, elastin, proteoglycan, keratin, albumin, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose, oxidized cellulose, oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC), hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, chitan, chitosan, casein, alginate, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The staple assembly of claim 1, wherein the absorbable polymer comprises a synthetic material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The staple assembly of claim 9, wherein the synthetic material is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(trimethylene carbonate) (TMC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a copolymer of glycolide and ϵ-caprolactone (PGCL), a copolymer of glycolide and -trimethylene carbonate, poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), poly(dioxanone) (PDS), polyesters, poly(orthoesters), polyoxaesters, polyetheresters, polycarbonates, polyamide esters, polyanhydrides, polysaccharides, poly(ester-amides), tyrosine-based polyarylates, polyamines, tyrosine-based polyiminocarbonates, tyrosine-based polycarbonates, poly(D,L-lactide-urethane), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(B-hydroxybutyrate), poly(ε-caprolactone), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), poly[bis(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene]poly(amino acids), pseudo-poly(amino acids), absorbable polyurethanes, poly(phosphazine), polyphosphazenes, polyalkyleneoxides, polyacrylamides, polyhydroxyethylmethylacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohols, poly(caprolactone), polyacrylic acid, polyacetate, polypropylene, aliphatic polyesters, glycerols, copoly(ether-esters), polyalkylene oxalates, polyamides, poly(iminocarbonates), polyalkylene oxalates, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 11

A staple cartridge for use with surgical staplers, comprising:
a staple cartridge housing loadable into a surgical stapler; and
a plurality of staples contained within the staple cartridge housing and configured to be individually actuated to be driven into tissue, each of the staples in the plurality of staples including a staple body, a first coating selectively applied to a first portion of the staple body, and a second coating selectively applied to a second portion of the staple body, wherein the first coating comprises an absorbable polymer and the second coating comprises a lubricant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein the first coating and the second coating at least partially overlap.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The staple cartridge of claim 11, wherein the first coating has a substantially permanent positive ionic charge.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the substantially permanent positive ionic charge is configured to increase cell mobility to speed up a tissue healing process.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the first coating comprises a plurality of fibers forming a bioscaffold having the substantially positive ionic charge.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The staple cartridge of claim 13, wherein the first coating comprise a plurality of embedded positively-charged synthetic spheres.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The staple assembly of claim 11 further comprising an MMP inhibitor selectively applied to the first portion of the staple body, wherein the first coating is configured to minimize adhesion of the MMP inhibitor to the first portion of the staples in the plurality of staples.