A surgical end effector comprising a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a compressible portion intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil is disclosed. The compressible portion comprises a plurality of tubular members.

A surgical stapling system including a shaft assembly transmits actuation motions from an actuator and an end effector compresses and staples tissue. The end effector comprises an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface is moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the staple forming surface; a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a tissue thickness compensator positionable between the anvil and the cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator is captured by the staples and assumes different compressed heights within the different staples. The tissue compensator comprises first conductive elements. The system determines properties of tissue compressed between the anvil and the cartridge.

A circular stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongate body portion that extends distally from the handle assembly, a shell assembly supported on a distal end of the elongate body portion, an anvil retainer assembly extending through the shell assembly, and an anvil assembly supported on the anvil retainer assembly. The anvil retainer assembly includes a retainer member including a retainer body and an engagement member that is pivotally supported on the retainer body. The engagement member is movable axially in relation to the retainer body from a retracted position to an advanced position to move the engagement member to from a locked position to an unlocked position in relation to the retainer body. In the unlocked position, the engagement member is movable from a non-articulated position to an articulated position in relation to the retainer body.

A buttress assembly is configured to temporarily adhere to a wet surgical stapler end effector. The buttress assembly includes a buttress body and a humidity tolerant adhesive material. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is applied to at least one side of the buttress body. The humidity tolerant adhesive material is configured to hold the buttress body to an underside of an anvil or a deck of a staple cartridge for at least five minutes in an environment of 100% relative humidity at approximately 37° C.

An apparatus comprises a shaft, an end effector, an articulation joint, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft has a longitudinal axis. The end effector is operable to staple tissue. The articulation joint couples the shaft with the end effector. The end effector is pivotable at the articulation joint to selectively deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The articulation drive assembly is operable to pivot the end effector at the articulation joint. The articulation drive assembly comprises a first link and a second link. The first link is longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft assembly. The distal end of the first link is pivotably coupled with the proximal end of the second link. The distal end of the second link is pivotably coupled with the end effector. The articulation drive assembly articulates the end effector in response to longitudinal translation of the first link.

Disclosed herein are surgical staple line reinforcement materials and methods of production and use thereof.

Surgical tissue fusion instrument and support structure having two gripping structures which are movable relative to each other and which are designed to bring together biological tissue sections that are to be connected to each other, with heat-generating means which are assigned to the gripping structures and, during tissue fusion, cause heat to be introduced in the area of a connection site of the biological tissue sections, and also with a support structure which is held between the gripping structures and, during tissue fusion, is operatively connected to the tissue sections. The support structure has at least one additional physical functional structure for aiding or promoting the tissue fusion.

An assembly for fastening tissue is disclosed. The assembly may comprise a first jaw comprising a cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of fasteners. The plurality of fasteners comprises a first fastener comprising a first height and a second fastener comprising a second height, wherein the second height is different than the first height. The assembly further comprises a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other. The second jaw comprises a plurality of fastener-engaging portions. The plurality of fastener-engaging portions comprises a first fastener-engaging portion and a second fastener-engaging portion. The assembly further comprises a compressible layer intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw.

The present invention relates to circular anastomosis stapler and kits comprising reinforcing buttress materials and fixation tools that are slidably installed on the anvil shaft of such staplers which provides a temporary mechanical fixation of a reinforcing buttress to the anvil surface of a circular stapler during the insertion of the anvil into the tubular tissue. When the anvil, loaded with the buttress, is in the desired location, the fixation tool is pulled back along the anvil shaft and removed. The shaft is then connected to the stapling head and the stapling is performed. The present invention also relates to methods for using the kits and devices therein.

A tool assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes structure on an anvil assembly and/or a cartridge assembly to obstruct blood from flowing through spaces in a staple line as the staple line is being formed by the stapling device. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly includes protrusions to compress tissue adjacent to spaces in the staple line as the staple line is being formed and tissue is being cut.