Compressible staple cartridge assembly
First Claim
1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple comprises an unfired height and a fired height, and wherein each said staple defines a staple entrapment area when deformed to said fired height; and
an implantable tissue thickness compensator comprised of a porous material having a porosity of greater than 93 percent, wherein said implantable tissue thickness compensator comprises a cartridge-facing surface, a tissue-facing surface, and a continuous portion extending between said cartridge-facing surface and said tissue-facing surface, wherein said continuous portion comprises an uncompressed height which is one of equal to or taller than said fired height of said staples, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to be captured within said staple entrapment areas of said staples along with tissue, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein said compressed height of said tissue thickness compensator within a said staple entrapment area is dependent on the thickness of tissue and the porosity of said porous material captured within said same staple entrapment area.
4 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
25 Claims
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1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple comprises an unfired height and a fired height, and wherein each said staple defines a staple entrapment area when deformed to said fired height; and an implantable tissue thickness compensator comprised of a porous material having a porosity of greater than 93 percent, wherein said implantable tissue thickness compensator comprises a cartridge-facing surface, a tissue-facing surface, and a continuous portion extending between said cartridge-facing surface and said tissue-facing surface, wherein said continuous portion comprises an uncompressed height which is one of equal to or taller than said fired height of said staples, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to be captured within said staple entrapment areas of said staples along with tissue, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein said compressed height of said tissue thickness compensator within a said staple entrapment area is dependent on the thickness of tissue and the porosity of said porous material captured within said same staple entrapment area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises an unfired height and a fired height; and an implantable tissue thickness compensator comprising a cartridge-facing surface, a tissue-facing surface, and a continuous portion extending between said cartridge-facing surface and said tissue-facing surface, wherein said continuous portion comprises an uncompressed height, wherein said uncompressed height is one of equal to or taller than said fired height of at least one said staple, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is comprised of an elastic material having a durometer of less than 15 Shore A and a porosity of greater than 93 percent, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to be captured within said staples along with tissue, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein said compressed height of said tissue thickness compensator within a said staple is dependent on the thickness of tissue and the durometer and the porosity of said elastic material captured within said same staple. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities; a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises an unfired height and a fired height; and an implantable tissue thickness compensator comprising a cartridge-facing surface, a tissue-facing surface, and a continuous portion extending between said cartridge-facing surface and said tissue-facing surface, wherein said continuous portion comprises an uncompressed height, wherein said uncompressed height is one of equal to or taller than said fired height of at least one said staple, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is comprised of a porous material having a porosity of at least 85 percent, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to be captured within said staples, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein said compressed height of said tissue thickness compensator within a said staple is dependent on the thickness of tissue and the porosity of said porous material captured within said same staple. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities arranged along a longitudinal line; a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises an unfired height and a fired height; and an implantable tissue thickness compensator working in conjunction with said staples to provide a variable compression force to tissue between said staples along said longitudinal line, wherein said tissue thickness compensator is comprised of a porous material having a porosity of greater than 93 percent, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a cartridge-facing surface, a tissue-facing surface, and a continuous portion extending between said cartridge-facing surface and said tissue-facing surface, wherein said continuous portion comprises an uncompressed height, wherein said uncompressed height is one of equal to or taller than said fired height of at least one said staple, wherein said implantable tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights along said longitudinal line, and wherein said compressed height of each portion of said implantable tissue thickness compensator is dependent on the thickness of adjacent tissue and the porosity of said porous material. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification