TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR COMPRISING CAPSULES DEFINING A LOW PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue thickness compensator can comprise a compensator body and at least one vessel contained in the compensator body. The vessel can define an inner cavity which can comprise an inner atmosphere having a pressure which is lower than the atmospheric pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the tissue thickness compensator. In at least one embodiment, the vessel and the compensator body can be maintained in a collapsed state until staples are fired through the vessel. At such point, the vessel can re-expand and apply a biasing force to tissue captured within the staples.
336 Citations
43 Claims
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1-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and a compressible portion releasably secured adjacent to the cartridge body, wherein the compressible portion comprises; a first layer; a second layer, wherein a space is defined between at least a portion of the first layer and at least a portion of the second layer; and a deformable support intermediate the first layer and the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body, and wherein the cartridge body comprises a deck; a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; a first layer of material supported by the deck; a deflectable support extending from the first layer of material; and a second layer of material supported by the deflectable support. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and a compressible portion releasably secured adjacent to the cartridge body, wherein the compressible portion comprises; a first portion; a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, wherein a gap is defined between the first portion and the second portion; and deflection means for controlling the gap between the first portion and the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A staple cartridge, comprising:
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a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body; a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and a compressible portion releasably secured adjacent to the cartridge body, wherein the compressible portion comprises; a first layer; a second layer; a support beam intermediate the first layer and the second layer, wherein the support beam comprises means for concentrating stress at a location in the compressible portion.
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40. A surgical end effector, comprising:
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a staple cartridge; an anvil; and a compressible portion intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil, wherein the compressible portion comprises; a first portion; a second portion spaced apart from the first portion; and a deformable beam extending from the first portion to the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification