Surgical adjunct retaining mechanisms
View Patent ↗An adjunct can be releasably retained on an end effector of a surgical tool, such as a surgical stapler, using a plurality of retaining elements. The retaining elements can be configured to retain the adjunct to the end effector with a mechanical force until a force is applied to the adjunct that overcomes the mechanical force, thereby allowing release of the adjunct from the end effector and into a patient's body.
1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
a cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities on a tissue-facing surface thereof, each staple cavity having a surgical staple disposed therein; and
a tray having the cartridge body seated therein and including a plurality of retaining elements on opposed longitudinal sides of the tray extending along opposed longitudinal sides of the cartridge body, the plurality of retaining elements being configured to releasably engage a biocompatible adjunct material such that the adjunct material is disposed on the tissue-facing surface of the cartridge body and is configured to be delivered to tissue by deployment of the surgical staples from the cartridge body and thereby be released from the plurality of retaining elements, wherein the tray is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the cartridge body and thereby allow the release of the adjunct material from the plurality of retaining elements.
2. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retaining elements include hooks that are each angled in a same direction.
3. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retaining elements include linear pegs extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opposed longitudinal sides of the cartridge body.
4. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray having the cartridge body seated therein is configured to be releasably seated in a jaw of a surgical stapler.
5. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct material is made of a plurality of fibers.
6. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct material is a film, and each of the plurality of retaining elements pierce the film.
7. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
a cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities on a tissue-facing, surface thereof, each staple cavity having a surgical staple disposed therein; and
a tray having the cartridge body seated therein and including a plurality of retaining elements on opposed longitudinal sides of the tray extending along, opposed longitudinal sides of the biocompatible adjunct material such that the adjunct material is disposed on the tissue-facing surface of the cartridge body and is configured to be delivered to tissue by deployment of the surgical staples from the cartridge body and thereby be released from the plurality of retaining elements, wherein the plurality of retaining elements include linear pegs extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opposed longitudinal sides of the cartridge body, and wherein each of the linear pegs includes a gripping feature thereon configured to facilitate gripping of the adjunct material.
8. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tray and the cartridge body are in a fixed position relative to one another.
9. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tray is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the cartridge body and thereby allow the release of the adjunct material from the plurality of retaining elements.
10. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of retaining elements include hooks that are each angled in a same direction.
11. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the tray having the cartridge body seated therein is configured to be releasably seated in a jaw of a surgical stapler.
12. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the adjunct material is made of a plurality of fibers.
13. The staple cartridge assembly of claim 7 , wherein the adjunct material is a film, and each of the plurality of retaining elements pierce the film.
14. An end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw having a cartridge body removably attached thereto, the cartridge body having a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein that are configured to be deployed from the staple cavities into tissue;
a second jaw having an anvil with a plurality of staple forming cavities formed on a tissue-facing surface thereof, the first and second jaws being configured to clamp the tissue therebetween; and
a retainer at one of the first and second jaws, the retainer having a plurality of extensions extending therefrom in a direction toward the other one of the first and second jaws, the plurality of extensions being configured to engage a biocompatible adjunct material to releasably retain the adjunct material to the one of the first and second jaws, and the deployment of the staples being configured to cause the staples to pierce the adjunct material and to cause the adjunct material to be released from the plurality of retaining elements, wherein the retainer is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the cartridge body and thereby allow the release the adjunct material from the plurality of extensions.
15. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of extensions are arranged longitudinally along each of opposed longitudinal sides of the one of the first and second jaws.
16. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of extensions include one of a plurality of hooks and a plurality of linear pegs.
17. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the one of the first and second jaws is the first jaw, and the other one of the first and second jaws is the second jaw.
18. The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the retainer is a tray seating the cartridge body therein, the tray being seated in a channel of the first jaw.
19. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the one of the first and second jaws is the second jaw, and the other one of the first and second jaws is the first jaw.
20. The end effector of claim 19 , wherein the retainer is releasably coupled to the anvil.