Compressible knitted adjuncts with finished edges
Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a stapling assembly can include a cartridge and a knitted adjunct that is configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. The adjunct includes first fibers, second fibers, and spacer fibers, in which the first fibers and the spacer fibers are intertwined to form a top layer of the adjunct, the second fibers and the spacer fibers are intertwined to form a bottom layer of the adjunct, and the first fibers, the second fibers, and the spacer fibers are intertwined to form at least one finished edge extending between the top and bottom layers such that the at least one finished edge substantially prevents fraying.
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 knitted adjunct 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 comprising first fibers, second fibers, and spacer fibers, wherein the first fibers and the spacer fibers are intertwined to form a top layer of the adjunct, the second fibers and the spacer fibers are intertwined to form a bottom layer of the adjunct, and first free ends of the first fibers, second free ends of the second fibers, and third free ends of the spacer fibers are knotted together to form at least one finished edge extending between the top and bottom layers such that the at least one finished edge substantially prevents fraying.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacers fibers extend from the top layer to the bottom layer to form an intermediate layer therebetween.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 2 , wherein only spacer fibers are present in the intermediate layer.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer fibers are intertwined with the first fibers in a repeated pattern within the top layer.
5. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer fibers are intertwined with the second fibers in a repeated pattern within the bottom layer.
6. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fibers and the second fibers are multifilament fibers.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer fibers are monofilament fibers.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finished edge is positioned along at least a portion of an outer-most edge of the adjunct.
9. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finished edge defines an entire outer-most perimeter of the adjunct.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a slot formed therein and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis thereof, the slot being defined between first and second opposing slot edges and configured to receive a cutting element.
11. The stapling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one finished edge includes a first finished edge and a second finished edge, and wherein the first finished edge is positioned adjacent to and along the first slot edge and the second finished edge is positioned adjacent to and along the second slot edge.
12. 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 knitted adjunct 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 surface and a cartridge-contacting surface that is opposite the tissue-contacting surface, the adjunct comprising
a top layer formed of first fibers intertwined with spacer fibers, the top layer defining at least a portion of the tissue-contacting surface,
a bottom layer formed of second fibers intertwined with the spacer fibers, the bottom layer opposing the top layer and defining at least a portion of the cartridge-contacting surface,
an intermediate layer positioned between the top and bottom layers, the intermediate layer being formed of the portions of the spacer fibers extending between the top and bottom layers, the portions of the spacer fibers being arranged to form standing fibers configured to bend in response to a force being applied to the knitted adjunct, and
at least one finished edge that includes a first free end of the first fibers, a second free end of the second fibers, and a third free end of the spacer fibers knotted together and positioned along at least a portion of an outer-most perimeter of the adjunct to thereby prevent unraveling of the fibers therealong.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spacer fibers are intertwined with the first fibers in a repeated pattern within the top layer.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spacer fibers are intertwined with the second fibers in a repeated pattern within the bottom layer.
15. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first fibers and the second fibers are multifilament fibers.
16. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spacer fibers are monofilament fibers.
17. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one finished edge includes a plurality of finished edges that, in combination, define the entire outer-most perimeter of the adjunct.