Patent ID: 9168038
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge assembly comprising: a cartridge body comprising a support portion, wherein said support portion comprises a plurality of staple cavities, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening; 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 is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between a said unfired position and a said fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises a height when in said fired configuration; and a compressible tissue thickness compensator, wherein portions of said tissue thickness compensator are configured to be captured within said staples, wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers said staple cavity openings when said staples are in said unfired positions, wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, and wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprises an uncompressed thickness that is greater than said heights of said staples in said fired configurations.