METHODS FOR FORMING TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC A61B17/72 A61B17/10 

FIELD: medical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to medical equipment, specifically to surgical cutting and stapling instruments and cartridges with staples used therein, which are configured for cutting and stapling tissue with staples. Method for forming a tissue thickness compensator for use with a surgical stapler includes the steps of preparing a solution of a bioresorbable polymer material in a solvent; placing the solution in the cavity of a casting mould; freezing the solution; placing a biocompatible breathable material on the open surface of the frozen solution, wherein placing the breathable material on the open surface minimises the points of contact between the breathable material and the open surface; lowering the pressure over the solution; providing heating and sublimation of the solution through the breathable material to form a foam body within the cavity, and removing the foam body from the cavity. Surgical stapler includes a surgical cartridge with staples, a support and a thickness compensator, formed in accordance with the method above. Surgical cartridge with staples includes a platform surface and holds a plurality of surgical staples, configured for forming with different heights in a formed state. Support includes a surface for forming staples and is supported to be movable relative to the surgical cartridge with staples, so that the surface for forming staples can be located opposite the platform surface for staples. Tissue thickness compensator has a non-uniform thickness in the cross section and is located between the surface for forming staples of the support and the platform surface for staples.

EFFECT: use of a group of inventions will allow to compensate for the varying thickness of tissue trapped inside various staples.

14 cl, 403 dwg