FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body comprising a deck and staple cavities;
staples at least partially positioned within said staple cavities;
a layer attached to said deck, wherein said layer at least partially extends over said staple cavities;
a clamp configured to releasably secure said layer to said cartridge body; and
a firing member movable through said cartridge body to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said firing member is configured to at least partially release said clamp during said firing stroke.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener cartridge can comprise, one, a cartridge body configured to at least partially store a plurality of fasteners therein and, two, a layer of material attached to the cartridge body by a retention member. The retention member can be deactivated to release the layer from the cartridge body when a firing member is moved through the cartridge body to eject the fasteners from the cartridge body. The retention member can be deactivated at the beginning, the end, and/or at any suitable time during a firing stroke of the firing member. Certain fastener cartridges can comprise a plurality of retention members configured to releasably hold the layer to the cartridge body. In certain circumstances, the retention members can be sequentially released in order to progressively release the layer.
447 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck and staple cavities; staples at least partially positioned within said staple cavities; a layer attached to said deck, wherein said layer at least partially extends over said staple cavities; a clamp configured to releasably secure said layer to said cartridge body; and a firing member movable through said cartridge body to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said firing member is configured to at least partially release said clamp during said firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck and staple cavities; staples at least partially positioned within said staple cavities; a layer attached to said deck, wherein said layer at least partially extends over said staple cavities; a retention pin engaged with said layer to secure said layer to said cartridge body; and a firing member movable through said cartridge body to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said firing member is configured to disengage said retention pin from said layer during said firing stroke to release said layer from said cartridge body. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck and staple cavities; staples at least partially positioned within said staple cavities; a layer attached to said deck, wherein said layer at least partially extends over said staple cavities; retention means for retaining said layer to said cartridge body; a firing member movable through said cartridge body to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke of said firing member; and deactivation means for deactivating said retention means during said firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification