A stapling assembly includes a cartridge, an anvil, and an adjunct. The cartridge has rows of staples disposed therein for deployment into tissue. The cartridge includes a knife slot extending therethrough between the rows for receiving a knife to cut tissue. The anvil is positioned opposite the cartridge. The adjunct is releasably retained on the cartridge or the anvil. The adjunct can be delivered to tissue by deployment of the staples from the cartridge. The adjunct can have a first shape, and a first adjunct portion can exhibit first expansion behavior in response to receipt of a volume of fluid, and a second adjunct portion can exhibit second expansion behavior in response to receipt of the volume of fluid such that the adjunct adopts a second shape. The difference between the first and second expansion behavior applies different pressures to different portions of tissue having the adjunct stapled thereto.

A tissue puncture closure device includes a carrier tube and a sealing plug. The carrier tube includes a distal end configured for insertion into the tissue puncture. The sealing plug is positioned in the carrier tube and arranged for ejection from the distal end of the carrier tube into the tissue puncture. The sealing plug includes a first collagen portion having a first cross-linked chemical structure, and a second collagen portion positioned proximal of the first collagen portion in the carrier tube. The second collagen portion has a second cross-linked chemical structure that is different from the first cross-linked chemical structure.

A suture anchor for fixation within an anatomical structure includes an actuation member in contact with an anchor body at a first location thereof. The anchor body is elongate along a direction of elongation and defines a central axis. In a neutral configuration, the anchor body is flat and defines a thickness along a transverse direction and a width along a lateral direction, the width being greater than the thickness. The anchor body has first and second tails that are braided together along a portion of the actuation member from the first location to a second location of the anchor body. The actuation member is configured to apply a force to the braided anchor body so as to actuate the anchor body in a manner increasing its maximum thickness along a second direction that is angularly offset from the direction of elongation.

A method for creating a flexible fastener line is disclosed. The fastener line comprises fasteners oriented in directions which are transverse or oblique to a tissue incision created by a cutting member. The fasteners can translate and/or rotate within the tissue when the tissue is stretched thereby creating flexibility within the tissue.

Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.

An intracorporeal marker delivery system includes a delivery device including a delivery cannula and a plunger. The delivery cannula has an inner lumen, a distal tip, and a discharge opening in communication with the inner lumen. A radiographically detectable marker having a fibrous-body and a radiographically detectable marker element coupled to the fibrous body is disposed within and pushable by the plunger through the inner lumen of the delivery cannula. An MRI detectable distal tip plug is disposed at least in part within a distal portion of the inner lumen distal to the radiographically detectable marker, and configured to partially occlude the discharge opening in the delivery cannula. An ultrasound detectable short term marker is interposed between the radiographically detectable marker and the MRI detectable distal tip plug in the inner lumen of the delivery cannula.

Adjunct material and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce tissue in proximity to a staple line are provided herein. In general, the adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue, such as lung tissue, and prevent stapled tissue from tearing. This adjunct material can be coupled to a jaw of a surgical stapler, and can be deployed into tissue along with the staples. In some embodiments, the adjunct material can comprise an outer material encompassing an inner, hydrophilic swellable material. The outer material can be selectively dissolvable and/or absorbable. When the outer material is punctured by staples or otherwise penetrated, moisture is passed to the inner material which then swells and expands to transition to a predetermined shape to seal the tissue and prevent leaks from forming in the tissue. Portions of the inner material around the staple line can transition to a large radius.

A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples.

Several embodiments are set forth of devices, systems and methods for modifying an atrial appendage such as a left atrial appendage (LAA). In one embodiment, a medical device includes a frame member and a tissue growth member. The frame member includes a unitary, seamless central portion having a plurality of struts defining a multi-cellular structure and an anchoring system, the plurality of struts extending between and configured to self-expand and directly bias the anchor system to anchor the frame member at least partially within the LAA. With this arrangement, the tissue growth member is attached to the frame member to occlude the LAA.