Surgical stapling apparatus with biocompatible surgical fabric

A method of applying tissue bolstering material to body tissue which comprises:

• providing a surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue, the apparatus including a first jaw structure for housing a plurality of surgical fasteners, and a second jaw structure disposed in juxtaposed alignment with the first jaw structure and configured and dimensioned for effecting closure of said plurality of fasteners;
• providing a biocompatible tissue bolstering material;
• providing at least one pin for releasably attaching the tissue bolstering material to the surgical apparatus;
• releasably securing the tissue bolstering material to either of said first and second jaw structures;
• aligning body tissue between said first and second jaw structures;
• and
• actuating the apparatus to apply the tissue bolstering material to the body tissue.

A method of applying tissue bolstering material to body tissue which comprises:

• providing a surgical apparatus for driving surgical fasteners into body tissue, the apparatus including a first jaw structure for housing a plurality of surgical fasteners, and a second jaw structure disposed in juxtaposed alignment with the first jaw structure and configured and dimensioned for effecting closure of said plurality of fasteners;
• providing a biocompatible tissue bolstering material;
• providing at least one clip independent of the tissue bolstering material for releasably attaching the tissue bolstering material to the surgical apparatus;
• releasably securing the tissue bolstering material to either of said first and second jaw structures by said at least one clip;
• aligning body tissue between said first and second jaw structures;
• and
• actuating the apparatus to apply the tissue bolstering material to the body tissue.