Releasable tissue thickness compensator and fastener cartridge having the same
First Claim
1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
- a cartridge body comprising a plurality of cavities, wherein said plurality of cavities defines a fastener region;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a proximal most fastener and a distal most fastener;
a lock moveably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, wherein said lock is longitudinally positioned between said proximal most fastener and said distal most fastener;
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to said cartridge body;
a connector extending from said tissue thickness compensator, wherein said lock holds said connector within said fastener region when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, wherein said lock releases said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body, wherein said lock is moveable from a locked positioned to an unlocked position, wherein said lock holds said connector when in said locked position and releases said connector when moved to said unlocked position; and
a key configured to move along at least a portion of said cartridge body within said fastener region during a firing stroke, and wherein said key moves said lock from said locked position to said unlocked position during the firing stroke.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, fasteners, and a layer of material releasably secured to the cartridge body. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. The cartridge body, the fasteners, the tissue thickness compensator and/or the end effector can comprise various features to releasably secure the tissue thickness compensator relative to the cartridge body. For example, the cartridge body can comprise slots, projections, cavities, drivers, locks, and/or keys, the fasteners can comprise barbs, and/or the tissue thickness compensator can comprise mounts and/or connectors.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of cavities, wherein said plurality of cavities defines a fastener region; a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a proximal most fastener and a distal most fastener; a lock moveably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, wherein said lock is longitudinally positioned between said proximal most fastener and said distal most fastener; a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to said cartridge body; a connector extending from said tissue thickness compensator, wherein said lock holds said connector within said fastener region when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, wherein said lock releases said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body, wherein said lock is moveable from a locked positioned to an unlocked position, wherein said lock holds said connector when in said locked position and releases said connector when moved to said unlocked position; and a key configured to move along at least a portion of said cartridge body within said fastener region during a firing stroke, and wherein said key moves said lock from said locked position to said unlocked position during the firing stroke.
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2. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising a plurality of cavities, wherein said plurality of cavities defines a fastener region; a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a proximal most fastener and a distal most fastener; a lock moveably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region, wherein said lock is longitudinally positioned between said proximal most fastener and said distal most fastener; a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to said cartridge body; and a connector extending from said tissue thickness compensator, wherein said connector comprises a suture, wherein said lock holds said connector within said fastener region when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, and wherein said lock releases said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
a plurality of fastener cavities positioned within said fastener region, wherein each said fastener is positioned in a said fastener cavity; and a lock cavity positioned within said fastener region, wherein said lock is positioned in a said lock cavity.
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4. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said lock is moveable from a locked positioned to an unlocked position, wherein said lock holds said connector when in said locked position and releases said connector when moved to said unlocked position.
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5. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said connector extends through said lock when said connector is held by said lock.
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6. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said connector is friction fit in said tissue thickness compensator.
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7. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, comprising:
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a plurality of locks, wherein each said lock is positioned in a said cavity within said fastener region; and a plurality of connectors extending from said tissue thickness compensator, wherein each said lock holds a said connector within said fastener region when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, and wherein each said lock releases said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body.
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8. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein said plurality of cavities comprises:
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a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each said fastener is positioned in a said fastener cavity within said fastener region; and a plurality of lock cavities, wherein each said lock is positioned in a said lock cavity within said fastener region.
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9. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality of cavities are arranged in a plurality of rows in said cartridge body within said fastener region, wherein said plurality of rows comprises a peripheral row, and wherein said lock cavities are in said peripheral row.
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10. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, further comprising an anvil, wherein said anvil comprises a forming surface, wherein said forming surface comprises a plurality of forming pockets, and wherein said cartridge body is pivotable with respect to said anvil.
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11. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises:
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a plurality of first fasteners comprising a first unformed height; and a plurality of second fasteners comprising a second unformed height, wherein said first unformed height is different than said second unformed height.
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12. The fastener cartridge assembly of claim 11, wherein said plurality of first fasteners comprises a first formed height, wherein said plurality of second fasteners comprises a second formed height, and wherein said first formed height is different than said second formed height.
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13. A fastener cartridge assembly, comprising:
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a cartridge body comprising; a plurality of cavities defining a fastener field; a proximal end; and a distal end; a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in a said cavity within said fastener field, and wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a first fastener and a second fastener; a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to said cartridge body; and a connector extending from said tissue thickness compensator, wherein said connector comprises a suture, wherein said connector is positioned within said fastener field, and wherein said connector is positioned between said first fastener and said second fastener; and holding means for holding said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, wherein said holding means are positioned within said fastener field when said tissue thickness compensator is secured to said cartridge body, and wherein said holding means releases said connector when said tissue thickness compensator is released from said cartridge body. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification