Method of applying buttresses to surgically cut and stapled sites

A method of applying a first buttress assembly and a second buttress assembly to a first jaw and a second jaw of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein each of the first and the second buttress assemblies comprises a buttress and an adhesive applied to the buttress. the method comprising:

• (a) positioning an open end of a buttress applier cartridge adjacent to the end effector of the surgical stapler, wherein the buttress applier cartridge is configured to selectively retain the first and second buttress assemblies on opposing surfaces of a platform of the buttress applier cartridge;
• (b) positioning the end effector, in an open unclamped state, within a channel defined by a housing of the buttress applier cartridge such that the first jaw of the end effector is located adjacent to the first buttress assembly, and the second jaw of the end effector is located adjacent to the second buttress assembly;
• (c) guiding the end effector relative to the buttress applier cartridge to align a curved tip of the end effector with a pocket formed in the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein the pocket is configured to accommodate the curved tip of the end effector when the end effector is in a clamped closed state;
• (d) clamping the end effector on the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein clamping the end effector on the platform comprises the first jaw of the end effector contacting a first pair of actuator sleds to selectively release the first buttress assembly from the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein clamping the end effector on the platform further comprises the second jaw of the end effector contacting a second pair of actuator sleds to selectively release the second buttress assembly from the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, and wherein at least a portion of the curved tip of the end effector is received by the pocket of the buttress applier cartridge during clamping;
• (e) adhering the first buttress assembly to the first jaw of the end effector, wherein adhering the first buttress assembly comprises the first jaw of the end effector contacting the adhesive on the buttress of the second buttress assembly;
• (f) adhering the second buttress assembly to the second jaw of the end effector, wherein adhering the second buttress assembly comprises the second jaw of the end effector contacting the adhesive on the buttress of the second buttress assembly;
• and
• (g) opening the end effector after clamping on the platform and removing the end effector from the channel defined by the buttress applier cartridge.

A method of applying a buttress assembly to an end effector of a surgical stapler using a buttress applier cartridge configured to selectively retain the buttress assembly, wherein the end effector comprises a pair of jaws configured to move between an open unclamped state and a closed clamped state, and wherein the buttress assembly comprises a buttress and an adhesive applied to the buttress, the method comprising:

• (a) positioning the end effector within a channel defined by a housing of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein the jaws of the end effector are in the open unclamped state;
• (b) aligning the end effector within the channel in a longitudinally centered orientation relative to the buttress assembly selectively retained on a platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein the buttress applier cartridge comprises a proximal alignment feature configured to contact a tissue stop of the end effector prior to clamping, and wherein aligning the end effector within the channel comprises the tissue stop of the end effector contacting the proximal alignment feature;
• (c) clamping the end effector on the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein the platform extends within the channel defined by the housing of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein clamping the end effector on the platform comprises the end effector contacting an actuator sled configured to selectively retain the buttress assembly on the platform of the buttress applier cartridge, wherein contacting the actuator sled with the end effector moves the actuator sled to release the buttress assembly from the platform;
• and
• (d) adhering the buttress assembly to the end effector, wherein adhering the buttress assembly comprises one of the pair of jaws of the end effector contacting the adhesive on the buttress.