TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR COMPRISING PORTIONS HAVING DIFFERENT PROPERTIES
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A surgical end effector, comprising:
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an anvil; a staple cartridge, comprising; a cartridge body comprising a deck; a plurality of staple cavities defined in said cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; and a plurality of drivers movably positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said driver is movable from an unfired position to a fired position, and wherein said plurality of drivers comprises; a proximal driver comprising a first surface, wherein said first surface is positioned above said deck when said proximal driver is moved to its fired position; and a distal driver comprising a second surface, wherein said second surface is positioned above said deck when said distal driver is moved to its fired position, and wherein said second surface is positioned above said first surface when said proximal driver and said distal driver are in their fired positions; and a firing element configured to move said drivers from their unfired positions to their fired positions during a firing stroke; and a layer positioned adjacent to said deck, wherein said layer is configured to be progressively released from said deck during the firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A surgical end effector, comprising:
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an anvil; a staple cartridge, comprising; a cartridge body comprising a deck; a plurality of staple cavities defined in said cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; and a plurality of drivers movably positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said driver is movable from an unfired position to a fired position, and wherein said plurality of drivers comprises; a proximal driver comprising a first surface, wherein said first surface is positioned above said deck when said proximal driver is moved to its fired position; and a distal driver comprising a second surface, wherein said second surface is positioned above said deck when said distal driver is moved to its fired position, and wherein said second surface is positioned closer to said anvil than said first surface when said proximal driver and said distal driver are in their fired positions; and a firing element configured to move said drivers from their unfired positions to their fired positions during a firing stroke; and a layer positioned adjacent to said deck, wherein said layer is configured to be progressively released from said deck during the firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a deck; a plurality of staple cavities defined in said cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in said staple cavities; a plurality of drivers movably positioned in said staple cavities, wherein each said driver is movable from an unfired position to a fired position during a firing stroke, and wherein said plurality of drivers comprises; a proximal driver comprising a first surface, wherein said first surface is positioned above said deck when said proximal driver is moved to its fired position; and a distal driver comprising a second surface, wherein said second surface is positioned above said deck when said distal driver is moved to its fired position, and wherein said second surface is positioned above said first surface when said proximal driver and said distal driver are in their fired positions; and a layer positioned adjacent to said deck, wherein said layer is configured to be progressively released from said deck during the firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification