Tissue thickness compensator comprising fibers to produce a resilient load

US9277919B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark Timmer · Jersey City, US
• Joseph H. Contiliano · Stewartsville, US
• Taylor W. Aronhalt · Loveland, US
• Chunlin Yang · Montgomery, US
• Charles J. Scheib · Loveland, US
• Katherine J. Schmid · Loveland, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 28, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 8, 2016
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F04C2270/0421
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A nonwoven compensator for an end effector of a surgical instrument can comprise a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout the nonwoven compensator. The nonwoven compensator can be positioned in the end effector such as adjacent to a deck surface of a fastener cartridge that is positioned in the end effector. When a fastener from the fastener cartridge is moved from an initial position to a fired position, the fastener can be configured to engage the nonwoven compensator. The fastener can compress a portion of the nonwoven compensator in a staple entrapment area defined by the fired staple. The spring fibers in the nonwoven compensator can comprise a resilient material and can be deformed when the fastener compresses a portion of the nonwoven compensator. Further, the nonwoven compensator can comprise non-spring fibers, a haemostatic material, and/or a homogenous absorbable polymer matrix.