Annular support structures

1. A system for joining a first body tissue and a second body tissue, the system comprising:

a circular endoscopic stapling instrument having a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly for approximating and joining a first body tissue to a second body tissue, and an elongated shaft extending between the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly; and

a reinforcing support structure supported on the shaft of the stapling instrument at a location spaced a distance from the anvil assembly and spaced a distance from the staple cartridge assembly, the reinforcing support structure having a central hub for connection to the shaft of the stapling instrument and at least one annular reinforcing ring supported on the central hub so that the at least one annular reinforcing ring is engaged with the elongated shaft at a location between the first body tissue and the second body tissue, wherein, after firing of the stapling instrument, the at least one annular reinforcing ring is interposed between and reinforces the joined first body tissue and the second body tissue.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the central hub is configured and dimensioned to frictionally engage the elongated shaft of the stapling instrument.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one annular reinforcing ring includes a radial outer ring and a radial inner ring.

4. The system according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one support spoke integrally extending between the radial inner ring and the central hub.

5. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the radial outer ring and the radial inner ring together defining a reservoir therebetween.

6. The system according to claim 5 , further comprising a wound closure material retained with the reservoir.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the reservoir is configured to rupture during a surgical procedure to expel the wound closure material between a first body tissue and a second body tissue.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the circular endoscopic stapling instrument has a plurality of annular rows of staples disposed in the staple cartridge assembly; and

the at least one annular reinforcing ring has an inner terminal edge defining a central opening, the reinforcing ring having a radial extent extending about a width of the rows of staples.

9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a support spoke extending between the central hub and the reinforcing ring.

10. A method of performing a surgical anastomotic procedure on a first body tissue and a second body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a circular surgical stapling instrument including a staple cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly for approximating and joining the first body tissue to the second body tissue, and an elongated shaft extending between the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly;

providing a reinforcing support structure including at least one annular ring for reinforcing the first body tissue and the second body tissue after the anastomotic surgical procedure, and a central hub connected to the at least one annular ring, the central hub defining an opening configured and dimensioned to engage the elongated shaft of the surgical stapling instrument at a location spaced an axial distance from a tissue contacting surface at the anvil assembly and spaced an axial distance from a tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly;

securing the first body tissue to the anvil assembly;

securing the second body tissue to the cartridge assembly;

positioning the central hub of the reinforcing support structure on the elongated shaft of the surgical stapling instrument at a location spaced a distance from the anvil assembly and spaced a distance from the staple cartridge assembly such that the central hub engages the elongated shaft and the at least one annular ring is disposed between the first body tissue and the second body tissue; and

interconnecting the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly via the elongated shaft of the surgical stapling instrument such that the reinforcing support structure is interposed between the first body tissue and the second body tissue.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

approximating the anvil assembly to the staple cartridge assembly; and

firing the surgical stapling instrument.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing support structure is centrally aligned with the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one annular ring includes a radial outer ring and a radial inner ring.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the radial outer ring and the radial inner ring together defining a reservoir therebetween.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising a wound closure material retained with the reservoir.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of:

rupturing the reservoir during the surgical procedure to expel the wound closure material between a first body tissue and a second body tissue.