Tissue thickness compensators
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
- a staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities and a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said cartridge body, said anvil comprising at least one staple forming surface;
a first tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first thickness and a first portion comprising a first uncompressed height; and
a second tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said anvil, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a second thickness and a second portion comprising a second uncompressed height, wherein said second uncompressed height is greater than said first uncompressed height, wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples, wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to be captured within the same staple, and wherein the sum of said first thickness and said second thickness is at least equal to a minimum thickness which provides adequate tissue thickness compensation within said staples.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-part tissue thickness compensator assembly can include a first tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to an anvil of a surgical stapler, a second tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to a staple cartridge of the surgical stapler, and a hinge connecting the first tissue thickness compensator to the second tissue thickness compensator. The first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include additional engagement features, such as a raised ridge that engages a slot in the anvil and/or the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include an encasement that contains a suitable biologic agent. An end effector assembly may be provided for attachment to a surgical instrument that includes, for example, a staple cartridge, an anvil, a first tissue thickness compensator positioned on the anvil, and a second tissue thickness compensator positioned on the staple cartridge.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
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a staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities and a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities; an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said cartridge body, said anvil comprising at least one staple forming surface; a first tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first thickness and a first portion comprising a first uncompressed height; and a second tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said anvil, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a second thickness and a second portion comprising a second uncompressed height, wherein said second uncompressed height is greater than said first uncompressed height, wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples, wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to be captured within the same staple, and wherein the sum of said first thickness and said second thickness is at least equal to a minimum thickness which provides adequate tissue thickness compensation within said staples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A staple cartridge for a surgical stapler wherein said surgical stapler includes an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities and a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, wherein said cartridge body is configured to be positioned in a surgical stapler in a facing relationship with the anvil of the surgical stapler, and wherein each said staple defines a tissue compression area; a first tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first portion comprising a first uncompressed height; and a second tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to the anvil, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a second portion comprising a second uncompressed height, wherein said second uncompressed height is greater than said first uncompressed height, wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to be captured within the same staple, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator is configured to apply a first biasing force to tissue captured within said staples in a first direction, and wherein said second tissue thickness compensator is configured to apply a second biasing force to the tissue captured within said staples in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A surgical stapler, comprising:
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clamping means for clamping tissue within a body cavity of a patient; stapling means for stapling the tissue clamped by the clamping means; first tissue thickness compensation means for compressing a portion of the tissue clamped by the clamping means; and second tissue thickness compensation means for compressing the portion of the tissue; wherein an uncompressed thickness of said second tissue thickness compensation means is greater than an uncompressed thickness of said first tissue thickness compensation means, wherein a combined thickness of the clamped tissue, said first tissue thickness compensation means, and said second tissue thickness compensation means is substantially constant, and wherein said second tissue thickness compensation means is disposed intermediate the tissue and said clamping means.
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19. A surgical end effector, comprising:
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a plurality of staples; a fixed jaw comprising a first layer, wherein said first layer comprises a first portion comprising a first uncompressed thickness; and a movable jaw configured to move between an open orientation and a closed orientation relative to said fixed jaw, wherein said movable jaw comprises a second layer, wherein said second layer comprises a second portion comprising a second uncompressed thickness, wherein said second portion is aligned with said first portion when said movable jaw is in said closed orientation, and wherein said second uncompressed thickness is greater than said first uncompressed thickness; wherein said first layer and said second layer are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein the sum of said first thickness and said second thickness is at least equal to a minimum thickness which provides adequate tissue thickness compensation within said staples.
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Specification