Patent ID: 7708180

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument for clamping and stapling tissue comprising: a) a handle, first and a second opposed tissue clamping members connected to the handle, at least one of the first and a second opposed tissue clamping members movable between an open position for receiving tissue and a closed position for stapling tissue therebetween, the first clamping member including a plurality of staples disposed therein in an array, the second clamping member comprising an anvil for forming the staples; b) a first portion of biocompatible material into which an adhesive initiator is incorporated, the first portion of biocompatible material being releasably attached to one of the first and second opposed tissue clamping members; c) a second portion of biocompatible material into which a fluid adhesive is incorporated, the second portion of biocompatible material being releasably attached to the other of the first and second opposed tissue clamping members and wherein the fluid adhesive polymerizes when in contact with the adhesive initiator; and d) a knife operably movable between the first and a second opposed tissue clamping members, wherein when the tissue is clamped and stapled, the knife cuts through the tissue, the first portion of biocompatible material that incorporates the adhesive initiator, and the second portion of biocompatible material that incorporates the fluid adhesive to release the adhesive, and wherein the cut provides a passage for migration of the adhesive from the second portion of material to the adhesive initiator in the first portion of material to initiate hardening of the adhesive across the cut.