Buttress attachment for surgical stapling instrument

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle, a tool assembly, and a staple cartridge. The handle includes an actuation trigger. The tool assembly is operatively coupled to the handle. In addition, the tool assembly includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The staple cartridge is releasably supported on the first jaw member. The staple cartridge includes first and second buttress materials and a spring member extending from the staple cartridge. The spring member is configured to support the second buttress material away from the first buttress material.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
 first and second jaw members;   a staple cartridge releasably supported on the first jaw member; and   a buttress retention assembly including:
 first and second buttress materials; and 
 a spring including opposing arms laterally spaced apart, the opposing arms supporting the second buttress material, wherein the first buttress material is detachably secured with the staple cartridge, and the spring extends from the staple cartridge such that the second buttress material is biased away from the first buttress material. 
   
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the spring is interposed between the first and second buttress materials. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the spring is secured with the second buttress material along a length of the second buttress material. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second buttress material is configured to engage an anvil supported on the second jaw member. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the staple cartridge includes a contact surface configured to receive the first buttress material thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the spring extends from the contact surface of the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the spring biases the second buttress material away from the contact surface. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first buttress material is secured with the staple cartridge by at least one of a suture, a hook and loop fastener, adhesive, a cap, or a hook. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first buttress material is detachably secured with the staple cartridge at proximal and distal ends of the first buttress material. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second buttress material is secured with the spring by at least one of a suture, a hook and loop fastener, adhesive, a cap, or a hook. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
 a tool assembly including first and second jaw members;   a staple cartridge releasably supported on the first jaw member;   an anvil supported on the second jaw member; and   a buttress retention assembly including:
 first and second buttress materials, the first buttress material positionable on the staple cartridge; and 
 a spring including opposing arms supporting the second buttress material, the second buttress material being biased towards the anvil by the spring when the staple cartridge is supported on the first jaw member, the second buttress material and the spring extending from the staple cartridge. 
   
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second buttress materials are releasably secured with the staple cartridge and the spring, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the opposing arms of the spring are spaced apart and extend along a length of the second buttress material. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the staple cartridge includes a contact surface configured to receive the first buttress material thereon. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the spring extends from the contact surface. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the staple cartridge and the first and second buttress materials are discrete components. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical stapling apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the second buttress material is exposed between the opposing arms.