Method of applying a buttress to a surgical stapler end effector

1. A method of securing a buttress to an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises an upper jaw member and a lower jaw member, the method comprising:

(a) positioning a platform of a buttress applier cartridge between the upper and lower jaw members while the jaw members are in an open configuration such that the buttress applier cartridge is removably received by the end effector, wherein the buttress applier cartridge includes a buttress disposed on the platform and a retainer member that releasably retains the buttress on the platform;

(b) moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform to thereby engage the buttress with the end effector, wherein the retainer member moves away from the buttress and thereby releases the buttress from the platform in response to the act of moving one or both of the jaw members toward the platform;

(c) moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members away from the platform to thereby remove the buttress from the platform; and

(d) removing the platform from between the upper and lower jaw members such that the buttress remains secured to the end effector.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform applies at least two different amounts of pressure against the buttress in response to the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform to thereby engage the buttress with the end effector.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) firing the end effector on tissue, thereby providing a spent staple cartridge; and

(b) attempting to close the actuated end effector about a second platform of a second buttress applier cartridge, wherein the second platform has features that engage the spent staple cartridge and thereby prevent full closure of the actuated end effector about the second platform.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising viewing an indicator on the buttress applier cartridge to confirm that the buttress applier cartridge is loaded before performing the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing a state of an indicator on the buttress applier cartridge in response to the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising driving a fluid from the buttress in response to the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the buttress applier cartridge has a reservoir that receives at least some of the fluid driven from the buttress in response to the act of driving a fluid from the buttress.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving feedback from the buttress applier cartridge confirming successful closure of the end effector about the platform.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buttress applier cartridge further comprises a latch, wherein the latch secures the position of the retainer member during the act of positioning the platform between the upper and lower jaw members, wherein the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform comprises:

(i) engaging a first portion of the latch with the upper jaw member, and

(ii) engaging a second portion of the latch with the lower jaw member while simultaneously engaging the first portion of the latch with the upper jaw member,

wherein the simultaneous engagement of the first and second portions of the latch causes the latch to release the retainer member,

wherein the release of the retainer member by the latch causes the retainer member to release the buttress from the platform.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform further comprises activating a data communication feature.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the act of activating a data communication feature comprises receiving electronic data wirelessly from the buttress applier cartridge.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising viewing an indicator on the buttress applier cartridge to confirm that the buttress applier cartridge has not been exposed to an adverse environmental condition before performing the act of driving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising viewing a display screen on the buttress applier cartridge to observe a characteristic of the buttress applier cartridge before performing the act of driving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) opening a container cover of a container;

(b) retrieving the buttress applier cartridge from the container; and

(c) removing a buttress cover from the buttress to expose an adhesive on the buttress.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the buttress cover is secured to the container cover such that the act of opening the container cover and the act of removing the buttress cover are performed simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising firing the end effector, wherein the act of firing the end effector comprises driving a first plurality of staples from the end effector through the buttress.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the act of firing the end effector further comprises driving a second plurality of staples from the end effector separately through the buttress.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper jaw member supports one of a staple cartridge or an anvil, wherein the lower jaw member supports the other of a staple cartridge or an anvil, wherein the buttress applier cartridge is provided separately from the staple cartridge and the anvil.

19. A method of securing a buttress to an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises an upper jaw member and a lower jaw member, the method comprising:

(a) positioning a platform of a buttress applier cartridge between the upper and lower jaw members while the jaw members are in an open configuration such that the buttress applier cartridge is removably received by the end effector, wherein the buttress applier cartridge includes a buttress disposed on the platform and a retainer member that releasably retains the buttress on the platform;

(b) moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members toward the platform to thereby engage the buttress with the end effector, wherein the retainer member releases the buttress from the platform in response to the act of moving one or both of the jaw members toward the platform;

(c) moving one or both of the upper or lower jaw members away from the platform to thereby remove the buttress from the platform; and

(d) removing the platform from between the upper and lower jaw members such that the buttress remains secured to the end effector.

20. A method of securing a buttress to an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the method comprising:

(a) positioning a platform of a buttress applier cartridge between the first and second jaw members while the jaw members are in an open configuration such that the buttress applier cartridge is removably received by the end effector, wherein the buttress applier cartridge includes a buttress disposed on the platform and a retainer member that releasably retains the buttress on the platform;

(b) moving one or both of the first or second jaw members toward the platform to thereby engage the buttress with the end effector, wherein the retainer member moves away from the buttress and thereby releases the buttress from the platform in response to the act of moving one or both of the jaw members toward the platform;

(c) moving one or both of the first or second jaw members away from the platform to thereby remove the buttress from the platform; and

(d) removing the platform from between the first and second jaw members such that the buttress remains secured to the end effector.