# US 2013/0153638 A1 · Surgical Stapling Apparatus Including Releasable Surgical Buttress > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153638 A1 - Document ID: US20130153638A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,481 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Inventors: Sally Carter; Gerald Hodgkinson; Richard P. Stevenson; Arthur Hislop; Ernest Aranyi; Jennifer Whiffen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153638A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets} - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - 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} - A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples} - A61B 2017/00831: {Material properties} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body, and a substantially circular buttress. The buttress includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. At least one stiffened region joins the buttress to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, the staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots; a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body; and a substantially circular buttress including an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, and at least one stiffened region joining the buttress to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least the outer portion of the buttress includes the stiffened region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least the inner portion of the buttress includes the stiffened region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stiffened region includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the inner portion of the buttress to the outer portion of the buttress. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stiffened region comprises ruffles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The staple cartridge of claim 5, wherein the ruffles are selected from the group consisting of folds, pleats, undulations, corrugations, creases, ridges, and bends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stiffened region is a localized crosslinked region of the buttress. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the buttress includes a stiffening agent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the outer portion of the buttress includes a terminal flange extending around an outer perimeter of the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The staple cartridge of claim 9, wherein the stiffened region extends through the terminal flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The staple cartridge of claim 10, wherein the terminal flange is adjoined to an outer side surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the buttress material includes a central opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein the stiffened region is concentric with the central opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The staple cartridge of claim 12, wherein the inner portion of the buttress includes an interior flange annularly extending into the central opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The staple cartridge of claim 14, wherein the stiffened region extends through the interior flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The staple cartridge of claim 15, wherein the interior flange is adjoined to an inner side surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stiffened region is disposed radially inward of the staple retaining slots. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The staple cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stiffened region is disposed radially outward of the staple retaining slots. ### Claim 19 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body portion having a distal end and a shaft with a connection portion; an anvil assembly including an anvil plate having staple forming recesses and a shaft connectable with the connection portion; a cartridge body receivable in the distal end of the tubular body portion and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, the staple retaining slots defining at least two annular rows of staple retaining slots; a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body; and a substantially circular buttress including an inner portion, an outer portion, and a middle portion extending between the inner portion and the outer portion, and at least one stiffened region joining the buttress to the tissue contacting surface, wherein the inner portion, the middle portion, the outer portion, and the at least one stiffened region are all formed from a common material. ### Claim 20 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body portion having a distal end and a shaft with a connection portion; an anvil assembly including an anvil plate having staple forming recesses and a shaft connectable with the connection portion; a cartridge body receivable in the distal end of the tubular body portion and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, the staple retaining slots defining at least two annular rows of staple retaining slots; a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body; and a substantially circular buttress including at least one buttress region and at least one stiffened region, wherein the at least one buttress region and the at least one stiffened region are formed from a common material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is disposed about an outer portion of the buttress. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is disposed about an inner portion of the buttress. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from an inner portion of the buttress to an outer portion of the buttress. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region comprises ruffles. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is a localized crosslinked region of the buttress. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the buttress includes a stiffening agent. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the buttress includes a terminal flange extending around an outer perimeter of the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 27, wherein the stiffened region extends through the terminal flange. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the terminal flange is adjoined to an outer side surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the buttress material includes a central opening. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is concentric with the central opening. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 31, wherein the buttress includes an interior flange annularly extending into the central opening. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 32, wherein the stiffened region extends through the interior flange. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 33, wherein the interior flange is adjoined to an inner side surface of the cartridge body. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is disposed radially inward of the staple retaining slots. ### Claim 36 (depends on 20) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stiffened region is disposed radially outward of the staple retaining slots. ### Claim 37 A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body portion having a distal end and a shaft with a connection portion; an anvil assembly including an anvil plate having staple forming recesses and a shaft connectable with the connection portion; a cartridge body receivable in the distal end of the tubular body portion and including a tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of staple retaining slots, the staple retaining slots defining at least two annular rows of staple retaining slots; a staple disposed within each staple retaining slot of the cartridge body; and a substantially circular buttress including at least one buttress material and at least one stiffened region, wherein the at least one stiffened region is formed by adding a stiffening agent to the buttress material, the stiffening agent being selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, starches, hydrogels, degradable polymers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the sugars are selected from the group consisting of tahalose, sucrose, galatose, and glucose. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the salts are selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium phosphate. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the hydrogels include degradable polyethylene glycol or poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the degradable polymers include poloxamers or polyhydroxy acids. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 41, wherein polyhydroxy acids are selected from the group consisting of glycolide, lactide, trimethylene carbonate, p-dioxanone, ε-caprolactone, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the stiffening agent is a coating on the buttress. ### Claim 44 (depends on 37) The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 37, wherein the stiffening agent is impregnated into the buttress.