Patent ID: 7431730

Claim:
A surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined, the surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the stapling apparatus and having a working surface; a staple cartridge positioned adjacent a distal end of the stapling apparatus and juxtaposable relative to the staple anvil, the staple cartridge including: a working surface; one or more rows of individual staple slots formed in the working surface; and a plurality of surgical staples individually disposed within the individual staple slots; a driving member for firing the surgical staples from the individual staple slots and against the staple anvil; and a wound closure material applicator assembly operatively associated with the stapling apparatus, the applicator assembly including: at least one conduit extending along at least a length of the driving member; and at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one conduit, the reservoir containing a dispensable wound closure material therein, and the conduit having at least one opening and being adapted to provide wound closure material therethrough to an area between the working surface of the staple anvil and the staple cartridge, wherein the at least one conduit includes a plurality of openings formed therein for dispensing the wound closure material therefrom, and wherein longitudinal translation of the driving member causes longitudinal translation of the at least one conduit across at least some of the individual staple slots, such that at least one of the plurality of openings is in communication with at least one of the staple slots.