Thermally formed tissue cushion adjunct for surgical stapler end effector

1. A surgical fastening instrument, comprising:

(a) an end effector including:

(i) a first clamping surface, and

(ii) a second clamping surface configured to cooperate with the first clamping surface to clamp tissue; and

(b) an apparatus, comprising:

(i) a first adjunct including a plurality of first resiliently compressible thermoplastic elements interconnected with each other; and

(ii) a second adjunct opposed from the first adjunct, the second adjunct including a plurality of second resiliently compressible thermoplastic elements interconnected with each other,

wherein a first sizing and a first spacing of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements are substantially the same as a second sizing and a second spacing, respectively, of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements, such that each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements is configured to align with a corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements, and

wherein each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements is configured to thermally bond with the corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements in response to application of heat thereto from at least one heat source to secure the first and second adjuncts to each other,

wherein the first adjunct is releasably secured to the first clamping surface, wherein the second adjunct is releasably secured to the second clamping surface.

2. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements are integrally formed together with each other as a unitary piece.

3. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements are integrally formed together with each other as a unitary piece.

4. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements includes a plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules, wherein the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements includes a plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules.

5. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements and each second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements includes a bioabsorbable thermoplastic material.

6. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements and the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements are each arranged periodically.

7. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements is configured to be compressed with the corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements during the application of heat thereto.

8. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements includes a first surface, wherein each second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements includes a second surface configured to confront the first surface of the corresponding first resiliently compressible element when aligned therewith.

9. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements is thermally bonded with the corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements.

10. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements are equally sized and equally spaced apart from each other along respective first rows, wherein the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements are equally sized and equally spaced apart from each other along respective second rows.

11. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further includes the at least one heat source configured to apply heat to at least one of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements or the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements for thermally bonding each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements with the corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements.

12. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 11 , wherein the at least one heat source includes at least one radiofrequency (RF) electrode.

13. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 12 , wherein the at least one RF electrode includes a first RF electrode and a second RF electrode configured to cooperate with each other to apply bipolar RF energy to the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements and to the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements.

14. The surgical fastening instrument of claim 13 , wherein the first RF electrode is coupled to the first clamping surface, wherein the second RF electrode is coupled to the second clamping surface.

15. An apparatus configured for use with an end effector of a surgical fastening instrument, comprising:

(a) a first adjunct including a plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules interconnected with each other, wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules includes a bioabsorbable thermoplastic material, wherein the first adjunct is configured to be releasably secured to a first jaw of the end effector; and

(b) a second adjunct opposed from the first adjunct, the second adjunct including a plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules interconnected with each other, wherein each second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules includes a bioabsorbable thermoplastic material, wherein the second adjunct is configured to be releasably secured to a second jaw of the end effector for accommodating tissue between the first and second adjuncts,

wherein a first sizing and a first spacing of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules are substantially the same as a second sizing and a second spacing, respectively, of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules, such that each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules is configured to align with a corresponding second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules, and

wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules is configured to thermally bond with the corresponding second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules in response to application of heat thereto from at least one heat source to secure the first and second adjuncts to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules includes a first surface, wherein each second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules includes a second surface configured to confront the first surface of the corresponding first resiliently compressible nodule when aligned therewith.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules includes a first opening in the respective first surface, wherein each second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules includes a second opening in the respective second surface.

18. An apparatus configured for use with an end effector of a surgical fastening instrument, comprising:

(a) a first adjunct including a plurality of first resiliently compressible thermoplastic nodules interconnected with each other, wherein the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules are arranged periodically; and

(b) a second adjunct opposed from the first adjunct, the second adjunct including a plurality of second resiliently compressible thermoplastic nodules interconnected with each other, wherein the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules are arranged periodically,

wherein the first and second adjuncts are configured to sandwich tissue therebetween,

wherein a first sizing and a first spacing of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules are substantially the same as a second sizing and a second spacing, respectively, of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules, such that each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules is configured to align with a corresponding second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules, and

wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules is configured to thermally bond with the corresponding second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules in response to application of heat thereto from at least one heat source to secure the first and second adjuncts to each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein each first resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of first resiliently compressible nodules and each second resiliently compressible nodule of the plurality of second resiliently compressible nodules includes a bioabsorbable thermoplastic material.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first and second adjuncts are not bonded to each other.