ABSORBABLE SURGICAL STAPLE COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO COATINGS
A staple cartridge comprising absorbable staples having co-operate and/or antagonistic coatings is disclosed.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades at a degradation rate when exposed to a degradation source in a patient; and
a coating on said substrate, wherein said coating inhibits the exposure of said substrate to the degradation source and slows the degradation rate of said substrate, wherein said coating comprises a bioabsorbable polymer, wherein said coating comprises a substance mixed in said bioabsorbable polymer that affects the pH of the local environment in the patient, and wherein said substance eludes from said coating as said bioabsorbable polymer is bioabsorbed.
12 . The staple of claim 11 , wherein said substance comprises at least one of sodium, calcium, and potassium.
13 . The staple of claim 11 , wherein said substance comprises a salt.
14 . The staple of claim 11 , wherein said substance acts to lower the pH of the local environment within the patient below 7.
15 . The staple of claim 14 , wherein said substance comprises at least one of hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and hydrochloric acid.
16 . The staple of claim 11 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer lowers the pH of the local environment within the patient.
17 . The staple of claim 16 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one of PGA and PLLA.
18 . The staple of claim 11 , wherein said substance acts to increase the pH of the local environment within the patient above 7.
19 . The staple of claim 18 , wherein said substance comprises an alkaline phosphate.
20 . The staple of claim 18 , wherein said substance comprises bicarbonate.
21 . The staple of claim 18 , wherein said substance comprises calcium.
22 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades when exposed to a degradation source in a patient; and
a coating on said substrate, wherein said coating prevents the exposure of said substrate to the degradation source and delays the degradation of said substrate, wherein said coating comprises a bioabsorbable polymer, wherein said coating comprises a substance mixed in said bioabsorbable polymer that affects the pH of the local environment in the patient, and wherein said substance eludes from said coating as said bioabsorbable polymer is bioabsorbed.
23 . The staple of claim 22 , wherein said substance comprises at least one of sodium, calcium, and potassium.
24 . The staple of claim 22 , wherein said substance comprises a salt.
25 . The staple of claim 22 , wherein said substance acts to lower the pH of the local environment within the patient below 7.
26 . The staple of claim 25 , wherein said substance comprises at least one of hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and hydrochloric acid.
27 . The staple of claim 26 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer lowers the pH of the local environment within the patient.
28 . The staple of claim 27 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one of PGA and PLLA.
29 . The staple of claim 22 , wherein said substance acts to increase the pH of the local environment within the patient above 7.
30 . The staple of claim 29 , wherein said substance comprises an alkaline phosphate.
31 . The staple of claim 29 , wherein said substance comprises bicarbonate.
32 . The staple of claim 29 , wherein said substance comprises calcium.
33 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades at a degradation rate when exposed to a degradation source in a patient; and
a coating on said substrate, wherein said coating inhibits the exposure of said substrate to the degradation source and slows the degradation of said substrate, wherein said coating comprises a bioabsorbable polymer, wherein said bioabsorbable polymer eludes from said coating as said coating is bioabsorbed, and wherein said eluded bioabsorbable polymer lowers the pH of the local environment within the patient.
34 . The staple of claim 33 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one of PGA and PLLA.
35 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades when exposed to a degradation source in a patient; and
a bioabsorbable coating on said substrate, wherein said bioabsorbable coating prevents the exposure of said substrate to the degradation source when said staple is implanted in the patient, wherein said bioabsorbable coating comprises a bioabsorbable polymer, wherein said bioabsorbable polymer eludes from said bioabsorbable coating as said bioabsorbable coating is bioabsorbed, and wherein said eluded bioabsorbable polymer lowers the pH of the local environment within the patient.
36 . The staple of claim 35 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one of PGA and PLLA.
37 . A staple, comprising:
a substrate comprised of metal that degrades at a degradation rate when exposed to a degradation source in a patient;
a first coating on the metal that increases the degradation rate of the metal when the first coating is exposed to the degradation source; and
a bioabsorbable second coating on the first coating that is impermeable when the staple is implanted in a patient, wherein the bioabsorbable second coating prevents the degradation of the first coating while the second coating is impermeable, and wherein the bioabsorbable second coating becomes at least partially permeable over time while the staple implanted in the patient such that the first coating becomes exposed to the degradation source.
38 . The staple of claim 37 , wherein said bioabsorbable polymer comprises at least one of PGA and PLLA.
39 - 81 . (canceled)