Compressible non-fibrous adjuncts
Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the stapling assembly includes a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein and a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. Adjunct systems for use with a surgical stapler are also provided. Surgical end effectors using the stapling assemblies are also provided. Methods for manufacturing stapling assemblies and using the same are also provided.
1. A stapling assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein, the plurality of staples being configured to be deployed into tissue; and
a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge such that the adjunct can be attached to tissue by the plurality of staples in the cartridge, the adjunct having a plurality of repeating unit cells, wherein the plurality of repeating unit cells are interconnected such that the adjunct, while under an applied stress in a range of 30 kPa to 90 kPa, undergoes a strain in a range of 0.1 to 0.9.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain is in the range of 0.1 to 0.7.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each unit cell includes a plurality of connecting interfaces, and wherein adjacent unit cells are connected to each other at corresponding connecting interfaces.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjunct has an undeformed state in which a maximum height of the adjunct in the undeformed state is greater than a maximum height of the plurality of staples in a formed configuration.
5. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of repeating unit cells comprises a triply periodic minimal surface structure.
6. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of repeating unit cells comprises a Schwarz-P structure.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of repeating unit cells comprises a sheet diamond structure or a gyroid structure.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of repeating unit cells comprises a modified Schwarz-P structure having at least one modification relative to a Schwarz-P structure, the at least one modification selected from the group consisting of stretched, cropped, thinned, and combinations thereof.
9. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each unit cell includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough and in communication with each other.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein each unit cell has a wall thickness from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.
11. A stapling assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein, the plurality of staples being configured to be deployed into tissue; and
a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge such that the adjunct can be attached to tissue by the plurality of staples in the cartridge, the adjunct having a plurality of repeating Schwarz-P structures that are interconnected that form a lattice structure that includes a plurality of predefined compression areas and a plurality of predefined non-compression areas, wherein the plurality of predefined compression areas are configured to compress while the adjunct is under an applied stress.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein the predefined non-compression areas are in the form of voids, and wherein each void is defined between four adjacent Schwarz-P structures of the plurality of repeating Schwarz-P structures.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of predefined compression areas are defined by the plurality of repeating Schwarz-P structures.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 11 , wherein the applied stress is from 30 kPa to 90 kPa.
15. A stapling assembly for use with a surgical stapler, comprising:
a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein, the plurality of staples being configured to be deployed into tissue; and
a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge such that the adjunct can be attached to tissue by the plurality of staples in the cartridge, the adjunct having a tissue-contacting layer, a cartridge-contacting layer that is opposite the tissue-contacting layer, and an internal structure extending therebetween, wherein the internal structure being formed of spacer struts that are configured to collapse without at least directly adjacent spacer struts contacting one another while the adjunct compresses under stress to thereby delay densification of the adjunct.
16. The stapling assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge-contacting layer is formed of a plurality of interconnected struts that define a plurality of openings within the cartridge-contacting layer.
17. The stapling assembly of claim 15 , wherein each spacer strut extends at an angle relative to the cartridge-contacting layer, and wherein each spacer strut substantially overlaps with a corresponding opening in the cartridge-contacting layer such that at least a portion of each spacer strut can be received within the corresponding opening during compression of the adjunct.
18. The stapling assembly of claim 15 , wherein the spacer struts include a first plurality of alternating angled struts and a second plurality of alternating angled struts, and wherein the internal structure includes a centralized zone that extends along the adjunct in a longitudinal direction between the first and second pluralities of alternating angled struts.
19. The stapling assembly of claim 18 , wherein the cartridge includes a channel that is configured to receive a cutting element, and wherein when the adjunct is releasably retained on the cartridge, the centralized zone at least partially overlaps with the channel.