U.S. Patent 8556918 was awarded to W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. on 2013-10-15 and describes a “Circular stapler buttress.” This patent has been cited 246 times by other U.S. patents which places it in the top 500 cited patents since 2010 according to our law firm research, and makes it of the most innovative medical technology patents in the field of instruments. The abstract states:

A buttress for use with circular surgical staplers that does not require adhesive to securely fasten the buttress to the stapler. Following cutting and stapling by the circular stapler, the buttress has an adaptive opening through its central region with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stapler anvil. Because of relief features built into the buttress, the stapler anvil may be pulled through the buttress material without causing permanent alteration to the buttress. These relief features may be provided regardless of whether the buttress is made of inelastic or elastic materials. The buttress is generally circular in shape with an outer diameter sized to coincide with the outer diameter of the stapler body staple compression surface and the outer diameter of the anvil compression surface of a circular stapler with which it is used. Prior to surgical use, the buttress is attached to the stapler with disruptable portions extending from outer perimetal areas of the buttress. Link: U.S. Patent 8556918

This patent was originally filed on 2008-01-16 which gives it a processing time of 2099 days, compared to an average processing time of 1639 in the field. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. has 921 total patents. The first named inventor is Jerald M. Crawley of Flagstaff, AZ. The primary examiner was Julian W Woo.

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