Adjunct material with mating features

Abstract

An adjunct material for use with an end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has different types of features for mating with the end effector. The adjunct is configured to be releasably retained on a jaw, such as a cartridge or anvil, using a plurality of female features formed thereon. Each female feature is configured to encompass a corresponding at least one of male features formed on the jaw in a clearance fit such that the adjunct is able to move with respect to the jaw at least in a first plane parallel to the tissue-facing surface. The male and female features mate such that the adjunct is not retained in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The adjunct also includes at least one attachment feature configured to releasably retain the adjunct on the jaw.

1 . An end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first jaw having a cartridge with a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein, the staple cavities opening on a tissue-facing surface of the cartridge;   a second jaw opposing the first jaw and having an anvil with a plurality of staple forming cavities formed on a tissue-facing surface thereof, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to clamp tissue therebetween;   a plurality of male features formed on a tissue-facing surface of at least one jaw of the first and second jaws;   an adjunct material configured to be releasably retained on the at least one jaw, the adjunct material comprising a plurality of female features, each female feature is being configured to encompass a corresponding at least one of the male features in a clearance fit such that the adjunct material is able to move with respect to the jaw on which it is mounted at least in a first plane parallel to the tissue-facing surface; and   at least one attachment feature configured to releasably retain the adjunct material on the at least one jaw.   
     
     
         2 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the male features are formed along at least one of long sides of the at least one jaw. 
     
     
         3 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the female features comprise openings formed in the adjunct material. 
     
     
         4 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the female features are oversized with respect to the corresponding male features such that male features encompassed by female features are not effective to retain the adjunct material in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
         5 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the female features is configured such that a single female feature can encompass more than one male feature. 
     
     
         6 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of male features comprise projections extending from the tissue-facing surface of the at least one jaw and configured to mate with respective female features. 
     
     
         7 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein the projections are tapered in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one jaw. 
     
     
         8 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the adjunct material comprises a backing layer non-removably attached thereto on a side thereof facing the at least one jaw, wherein the female features comprise openings formed in the backing layer. 
     
     
         9 . The end effector of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the openings is configured such that a single opening can encompass more than one male feature. 
     
     
         10 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises adhesive disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the adjunct material facing the at least one jaw. 
     
     
         11 . An adjunct material configured to be releasably retained on a jaw of an end effector for a surgical instrument, the adjunct material comprising:
 a plurality of female features configured to surround corresponding male features formed on a tissue-facing surface of the jaw such that the adjunct material is able to move with respect to the male features in at least a first plane that is parallel to a tissue-facing surface of the jaw on which the adjunct material is mounted; and   at least one attachment feature configured to releasably retain the adjunct material on the jaw.   
     
     
         12 . The adjunct material of  claim 11 , wherein the jaw comprises a cartridge with a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein formed on a tissue-facing surface of the cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The adjunct material of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the female features is configured such that a single female feature can surround more than one male feature. 
     
     
         14 . The adjunct material of  claim 11 , further comprising a backing layer non-removably attached to the adjunct material on a side thereof facing the jaw, wherein the female features comprise openings formed in the backing layer. 
     
     
         15 . The adjunct material of claim of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the openings is configured such that a single opening can surround more than one male feature. 
     
     
         16 . The adjunct material of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one attachment feature comprises adhesive disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the adjunct material facing the jaw. 
     
     
         17 . An end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first jaw having a cartridge with a plurality of staple cavities configured to seat staples therein, the staple cavities opening on a tissue-facing surface of the cartridge;   a second jaw opposing the first jaw and having an anvil with a plurality of staple forming cavities formed on a tissue-facing surface thereof, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to clamp tissue therebetween;   a plurality of male features formed on a tissue-facing surface of at least one jaw of the first and second jaws;   an adjunct material formed from at least partially expandable material and configured to be releasably retained on the at least one jaw, the adjunct material comprising a plurality of female features formed by expandable openings between fibers of the expandable material, each female feature is able to encompass a corresponding at least one of the male features in a clearance fit such that the adjunct material is able to move with respect to the jaw on which it is mounted at least in a first plane parallel to the tissue-facing surface; and   at least one attachment feature configured to releasably retain the adjunct material on the at least one jaw.   
     
     
         18 . The end effector of  claim 17 , wherein each of the expandable openings forms a female feature when a corresponding male feature is received in the expandable opening such that the expandable opening is expanded around at least a portion of the male feature. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the expandable material comprises fibers forming a pattern such that the expandable openings are formed in the fibers at locations of the adjunct material corresponding to locations of the male features formed on the at least one jaw.