A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler comprising an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body, comprising: a deck comprising a staple storage zone; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said deck, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck, wherein said staple cavities are positioned within said staple storage zone; an implantable compressible portion positioned above said deck, wherein said compressible portion comprises: a top surface having a portion extending over said staple cavities in said staple storage zone; and a bottom surface facing said deck; 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 said unfired position and said fired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and may assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between said unfired configuration and said fired configuration; and a removable cover, comprising: a cover portion; an attachment portion (10088, 10089) releasably engaged with said cartridge body; and a plurality of supports (10083, 10087) extending from said removable cover configured to engage said cartridge body and limit relative movement between said removable cover and said cartridge body; characterized in that each said staple extends above said deck and is at least partially positioned within said compressible portion when each said staple is positioned in said unfired position; said cover portion covers at least said portion of said top surface that extends over said staple cavities in said staple storage zone. a cartridge body, comprising: a deck comprising a staple storage zone; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said deck, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck, wherein said staple cavities are positioned within said staple storage zone; a deck comprising a staple storage zone; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said deck, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck, wherein said staple cavities are positioned within said staple storage zone; an implantable compressible portion positioned above said deck, wherein said compressible portion comprises: a top surface having a portion extending over said staple cavities in said staple storage zone; and a bottom surface facing said deck; a top surface having a portion extending over said staple cavities in said staple storage zone; and a bottom surface facing said deck; 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 said unfired position and said fired position, and wherein said compressible portion is configured to be captured within said staples and may assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between said unfired configuration and said fired configuration; and a removable cover, comprising: a cover portion; an attachment portion (10088, 10089) releasably engaged with said cartridge body; and a plurality of supports (10083, 10087) extending from said removable cover configured to engage said cartridge body and limit relative movement between said removable cover and said cartridge body; a cover portion; an attachment portion (10088, 10089) releasably engaged with said cartridge body; and a plurality of supports (10083, 10087) extending from said removable cover configured to engage said cartridge body and limit relative movement between said removable cover and said cartridge body; characterized in that each said staple extends above said deck and is at least partially positioned within said compressible portion when each said staple is positioned in said unfired position; said cover portion covers at least said portion of said top surface that extends over said staple cavities in said staple storage zone.