STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE ADJUNCT MATERIAL
First Claim
1. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
- a cartridge body, comprising;
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and
a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a firing member movable between a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities;
a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and
a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainer and lift said layer retainer relative to said deck.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises cartridge body and a layer. The layer is implantable against tissue by staples deployed from the cartridge body and deformed by an anvil. The cartridge and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the cartridge and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the cartridge body. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the anvil and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the anvil and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the anvil. In certain instances, the layer can be positioned against the anvil, but releasably attached to the cartridge. The layer can comprise buttress material and/or a tissue thickness compensator, for example.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; a firing member movable between a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities; a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainer and lift said layer retainer relative to said deck. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; a plurality of staple drivers comprising a proximal driver and a distal driver; a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to lift said staple drivers toward said deck to eject said staples from said staple cavities; a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said distal driver is configured to retract said layer retainer relative to said deck. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; a plurality of staple cavities; and a longitudinal slot; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein a portion of said firing member is positioned within said longitudinal slot; a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and a longitudinal series of layer retainers configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said layer retainers are aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainers to progressively release said layer retainers from said longitudinal slot. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
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a staple cartridge, comprising; a cartridge body, comprising; a proximal end; a distal end; a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities; and a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities; an anvil configured to deform said staples; a layer positioned against said anvil, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities, wherein said layer comprises a layer retainer positioned intermediate said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said layer retainer is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification