Tissue thickness compensators
First Claim
1. A surgical stapler, comprising:
- a staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, and a stepped deck surface, wherein said staple cavities are defined in said stepped deck surface;
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 over said stepped deck surface, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a stepped bottom surface that substantially matches said stepped deck surface, and wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first thickness; and
a second tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said anvil, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a second thickness, 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, 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
22 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, a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, and a stepped deck surface, wherein said staple cavities are defined in said stepped deck surface; 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 over said stepped deck surface, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a stepped bottom surface that substantially matches said stepped deck surface, and wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a first thickness; and a second tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said anvil, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a second thickness, 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, 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, 10, 11, 12)
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13. 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, a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities, and a stepped deck surface, wherein said staple cavities are defined in said stepped deck surface, and 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; and a first tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said cartridge body over said stepped deck surface, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator comprises a stepped bottom surface that substantially matches said stepped deck surface; and a second tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to the anvil, 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 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 (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. 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, the stapling means comprising a stepped deck surface; and tissue thickness compensation means for compressing the tissue clamped by the clamping means such that a combined thickness of the clamped tissue and the tissue thickness compensation means is substantially constant, wherein the tissue thickness compensation means is disposed intermediate the tissue and said clamping means.
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Specification