A staple cartridge assembly includes, one, a plurality of staples movable between unfired positions and fired positions and, two, a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, wherein the staples are configured to at least partially capture the layer when the staples are moved between the unfired positions and the fired positions. The layer can include a cushioning member at least partially extending around a peripheral portion of the tissue thickness compensator. The layer can include features which create a flexible transition between the tissue supported by the layer and the staples and the unsupported tissue.

The invention relates to a device suitable for application of a curable fluid composition to encircle a bodily organ. The device comprises a monolithic piece of a flexible material having a length dimension with an inner surface and an outer surface, a first end and a second end, a width dimension, and two spaced-apart sides, wherein a portion of the length dimension proximal to the first end is configured to contact a portion of the length dimension proximal to the second end, the inner surface defining a hollow area between the two spaced-apart sides; and at least one inlet providing fluid communication between the outer surface and the inner surface, for introduction of the fluid into the hollow area. The device deployable around the bodily organ such that when the portion of the length dimension proximal to the first end contacts the portion of the length dimension proximal to the second end, an outer surface of the bodily organ and the hollowed area define an enclosed volume encircling the bodily organ, the enclosed volume suitable for containing the fluid therein.

Methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the minimally invasive removal of tissue and to facilitate the direct approach to anesthetizing a body wall of a patient. A pull-type cutting device also is disclosed to introduce an opening into the body wall to provide access for intra-chest surgical interventions, for example a minimally invasive biopsy technique as also described for excising target tissue from within a patient, including a nodule from within the patient's lung.

Surgical methods involving cutting and sealing tissue include affixing a first adjunct material to tissue at a treatment site, such as by stapling the adjunct to tissue. A second adjunct material is applied to at least a portion of the first adjunct material such that the second adjunct material interacts with the first adjunct material to form a seal in an area of the tissue covered by at least one of the first and the second adjunct material. The resulting tissue sealing structure, which includes a combination of the two adjuncts, is believed to be superior to the sealing properties of either adjunct alone.

An intracranial stent includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a tubular sidewall extending there between and a patch covering at least a portion of the sidewall; wherein the patch is capable of diverting blood flow past the neck of an intracranial aneurysm. The patch may be made of a photon-activatable material or a tightly woven metal material with a density greater than a density of the sidewall itself.

The invention relates to a device suitable for application of a curable fluid composition to encircle a bodily organ. The device comprises a monolithic piece of a flexible material having a length dimension with an inner surface and an outer surface, a first end and a second end, a width dimension, and two spaced-apart sides, wherein a portion of the length dimension proximal to the first end is configured to contact a portion of the length dimension proximal to the second end, the inner surface defining a hollow area between the two spaced-apart sides; and at least one inlet providing fluid communication between the outer surface and the inner surface, for introduction of the fluid into the hollow area. The device deployable around the bodily organ such that when the portion of the length dimension proximal to the first end contacts the portion of the length dimension proximal to the second end, an outer surface of the bodily organ and the hollowed area define an enclosed volume encircling the bodily organ, the enclosed volume suitable for containing the fluid therein.

A device comprising a housing including a palm portion, a sheath portion extending from one end of the palm portion, and a slot comprising an adjustable platform capable of receiving a syringe and a needle connected to the syringe with the needle resting in the sheath portion. A trigger mechanism is connected to the adjustable platform. Adjustment of the trigger mechanism in a first direction moves the platform along the slot toward the sheath portion and adjustment of the bidirectional trigger mechanism in a second direction moves the platform away from the sheath. A light element is connected to the housing and is capable of directing light along the sheath portion away from the palm portion. A power source is electrically coupled to the light element to provide electrical power to the light element. Also disclosed is a system comprising the device, as well as methods of using the device.

System and methods of delivering adhesive material are described for occluding target locations within a patient. The systems include a catheter configured to deliver adhesive to a target location and one or more of a light source to harden the adhesive, a retention structure to contain the adhesive prior to curing, a balloon to occupy a target location, and an open cell foam plug to occupy a target location.

A method of performing bariatric surgery using a robotic surgical system includes positioning a gastrectomy device in a selected location in a stomach; applying an adherent material to the stomach along a desired transection line; and cutting the stomach along the desired transection line delineated by the adherent material.

Surgical methods involving cutting and sealing tissue include affixing a first adjunct material to tissue at a treatment site, such as by stapling the adjunct to tissue. A second adjunct material is applied to at least a portion of the first adjunct material such that the second adjunct material interacts with the first adjunct material to form a seal in an area of the tissue covered by at least one of the first and the second adjunct material. The resulting tissue sealing structure, which includes a combination of the two adjuncts, is believed to be superior to the sealing properties of either adjunct alone.