Surgical stapler instrument and method for vascular hemostasis

摘要

An improved surgical stapler instrument and method for enhancing blood vessel hemostasis is set forth where the improvement consists of the use of flexible body-absorbable or non-absorbable pads carried by the stapler cartridge and interposed between the stapler cartridge and the anvil. The flexible pads are captively and releasably held by the stapler cartridge by overhanging arms which are laterally and oppositely spaced from the longitudinal axis of the stapler instrument and sufficiently spaced laterally to permit the anvil to compressively bear against the anvil engagement face of the stapler cartridge. The flexible pads are captively held during the positioning of body-tissue between the anvil and stapler cartridge and released after the staples penetrate through the pad, then the tissue and then formed against the anvil.