Patent ID: 8016177

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw, each of the first jaw and the second jaw defining a tissue contacting surface, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw defining staple pockets formed in the respective tissue contacting surface for forming staples expelled from corresponding staple retaining slots defined in the tissue contacting surface of the other of the first jaw and second jaw; a buttress material having a central portion, a peripheral portion, and a perforation line separating the central portion from the peripheral portion, at least the peripheral portion being disposed against the tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, the central portion of the buttress material being separable from the peripheral portion of the buttress material after staples are fired by the surgical instrument; and a buttress material retainer for securing at least a portion of the buttress material against the tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, the buttress material retainer including a frame configured to overlie the buttress material and extend around the entire perimeter of the peripheral portion of the buttress material, wherein, upon firing of the surgical instrument, staples secure the central portion of the buttress material against tissue and the frame retains the peripheral portion of the buttress material against the tissue contacting surface of the at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, and wherein, upon separation of the at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw from the tissue, the central portion of the buttress material is separated from the peripheral portion of the buttress material along the perforation line.