A wound protector includes a tubular body that is configured to protect a cut site of an anastomosis. The wound protector can be secured to the anastomotic site after formation of the anastomosis or, alternatively, secured to the anastomotic site during formation of the anastomosis. The tubular body of the wound protector is positioned and configured to shield the anastomosis from waste material passing through a digestive tract of a patient.

A surgical kit includes a surgical stapling device and a loading assembly. The surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a buttress material. The tool assembly includes first and second jaw members. The first jaw member supports a staple cartridge that includes a retention assembly. The retention assembly includes a cam block including a pair of protrusions and a spring biasing the cam block towards the second jaw member. The buttress material includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion defines bores laterally spaced apart and configured to receive the pair of protrusions of the cam block. The distal portion defines a cavity to be placed over a distal end portion of the staple cartridge. The loading assembly includes a housing defining a chamber configured to receive a portion of the buttress material. The housing includes a proximal portion defining a slot configured to receive the buttress material therethrough and the pair of protrusions of the cam block.

Methods for forming an implantable layer onto a staple cartridge are disclosed.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector configured to clamp tissue, a motor configured to actuate the end effector, and a controller in communication with the motor and configured to determine a stress and strain of the tissue, identify a tissue type of the tissue based on the determined stress and strain of the tissue, and set an operational parameter of the surgical instrument based on the identified tissue type of the tissue.

Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a stapling assembly can include a cartridge and a knitted adjunct that is configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. The adjunct can have a tissue-contacting layer formed of at least first fibers, a cartridge-contacting layer formed of at least second fibers, spacer fibers intertwined with and extending between the tissue-contacting layer and the cartridge-contacting layer to thereby connect the tissue-contacting and cartridge-contacting layers together, and at least one fiber interconnecting at least a portion of a terminal edge of each of the tissue-contacting and cartridge-contacting layers to form a finished edge that substantially prevents fraying thereof.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a loading unit and a surgical buttress assembly. The loading unit includes an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly. The staple cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface including staple pockets and a central longitudinal slot defined therethrough and a hook assembly extending outwardly from the tissue facing surface. The surgical buttress assembly includes an anvil buttress and a cartridge buttress. Each of the anvil and cartridge buttresses includes a body, a proximal tab, and a distal tab. The anvil and cartridge buttresses are interconnected at a junction of the proximal tabs and the surgical buttress assembly is folded at the junction such that the proximal tabs substantially overlie one another. The proximal tabs are engaged with the hook assembly to releasably secure the proximal tabs of the anvil and cartridge buttresses to the staple cartridge assembly.

An anvil buttress loading system includes an anvil assembly, an anvil buttress retention clip coupled to the anvil assembly, an anvil buttress loading tool, and an anvil buttress. The anvil buttress is retainable on each of the anvil buttress loading tool and the anvil assembly, and is transferrable from the anvil buttress loading tool to the anvil assembly.

A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a buttress assembly. The tool assembly includes first and second jaw members that are transitionable between closed and open configurations. At least one of the first or second jaw members includes a retention assembly including a support defining a recess. The buttress assembly includes a buttress material and a spine. The buttress material includes first and second portions. The spine includes an elongate portion extending along a length of the first and second portions of the buttress material and an engaging portion attached to the elongate portion in an orthogonal relation. The engaging portion is detachably received in the recess of the support of the retention assembly of the at least one of the first or second jaw members.

Surgical stapling devices have a metal coating on an anvil jaw member of the surgical stapling device, on a surface of staple pockets of a staple cartridge of the surgical stapling device, or any combination thereof. When the surgical stapling device is fired, the metal is transferred from the metal coating on the anvil jaw member, the staple pockets of the staple cartridge, etc., onto the staple. The resulting metal coating on the staple enhances healing of the tissue to which the staple is applied.

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.