Universal linear buttress retention/release assemblies and methods

1. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a handle including an actuation trigger;

a tool assembly operatively coupled to the handle, the tool assembly including a first jaw member and a second jaw member; and

a buttress retention assembly including:

a sleeve configured to be detachably coupled with the first jaw member, the sleeve including proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion including a proximal hook extending transversely outward from at least one lateral side of the proximal portion, the distal portion including a mouth defining an aperture, the mouth including a hook configured to be at least partially received in a knife slot of the first jaw member, the mouth including an inner surface having an inwardly extending boss; and

a buttress material including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the buttress material including a tab extending transversely outward from a lateral side of the proximal end portion, the tab defining a proximal slot configured to receive the proximal hook of the sleeve, at least a portion of the distal end portion extending through the aperture of the mouth of the sleeve, the distal end portion defining a distal slot dimensioned to receive the boss of the sleeve.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the buttress material is formed of an elastic material such that when the buttress material is supported on the sleeve, cutting of the buttress material along a length thereof by a knife of the tool assembly causes the hook of the mouth to urge the buttress material inward towards the knife slot of the first jaw member, whereby the boss of the sleeve is released from the distal slot of the buttress material.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion of the buttress material defines a slit dimensioned to receive a knife of the tool assembly.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes an arcuate shape configured to receive the first jaw member.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the sleeve includes a plurality of lips extending transversely outward from opposing lateral sides thereof to engage the first jaw member.

6. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the proximal portion of the sleeve includes a plurality of proximal hooks disposed on the opposing lateral sides of the proximal portion of the sleeve.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each proximal hook is interposed between adjacent lips.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is secured with the first jaw member by snap-fit or interference fit configuration.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth of the sleeve includes a nose having sides configured to displace the hook of the sleeve away from the first jaw member when the sides of the nose are squeezed together.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the mouth defines an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the first jaw member.

11. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a tool assembly including first and second jaw members, the first jaw member defining a knife slot; and

a buttress retention assembly including:

a sleeve configured to be detachably coupled to the first jaw member, the sleeve including:

a protuberance extending transversely outward from at least one lateral side of the sleeve; and

a mouth defining an aperture, the mouth including a hook configured to be at least partially received in the knife slot of the first jaw member, the mouth including a boss; and

a buttress material including a tab extending transversely outward from a lateral side thereof, the tab defining a first slot configured to receive the protuberance of the sleeve, at least a portion of the buttress material extending through the aperture of the mouth of the sleeve and defining a second slot dimensioned to receive the boss of the sleeve.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the buttress material is formed of an elastic material such that when the buttress material is supported on the sleeve, cutting of the buttress material along a length thereof by a knife of the tool assembly causes the hook of the mouth to urge the buttress material inward towards the knife slot of the first jaw member, whereby the boss of the sleeve is released from the second slot of the buttress material.

13. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a proximal end portion of the buttress material defines a slit dimensioned to receive a knife of the tool assembly.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a proximal portion of the sleeve includes a plurality of lips extending transversely outward from opposing lateral sides thereof to engage the first jaw member.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the proximal portion of the sleeve includes a plurality of proximal hooks disposed on the opposing lateral sides of the proximal portion of the sleeve.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein each proximal hook of the plurality of proximal hooks is interposed between adjacent lips.

17. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the mouth includes an inner surface having the boss that extends inwardly from the inner surface.