A method of selecting a staple cartridge (300, 2100, 6600, 7400, 7800, 8000, 8100, 8300, 8400, 9000, 10100, 10200, 10330) for a surgical procedure that treats the tissue of a patient, comprising: manufacturing a first staple cartridge having first staples (100, 222, 2130, 2130a, 2130b, 2230, 2330, 2430, 2530, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3800, 3800', 4000, 4200, 4400, 4600, 4800, 5100, 5300, 5500, 6000, 6100, 6300, 6300', 6300", 6700, 6700', 6800, 6800', 7000, 7820, 7820', 7820", 8220, 8220', 8220", 9220", 9800, 10120, 10220, 10320) stored therein, wherein the first staple cartridge is useable with a surgical stapling instrument; manufacturing a second staple cartridge having second staples (100, 222, 2130, 2130a, 2130b, 2230, 2330, 2430, 2530, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3800, 3800', 4000, 4200, 4400, 4600, 4800, 5100, 5300, 5500, 6000, 6100, 6300, 6300', 6300", 6700, 6700', 6800, 6800', 7000, 7820, 7820', 7820", 8220, 8220', 8220", 9220", 9800, 10120, 10220, 10320) stored therein, wherein the second staple cartridge is useable with the surgical stapling instrument; characterized in that: the first staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the first staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a first timeframe, the second staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the second staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a second timeframe which is longer than the first timeframe; and the method further comprises offering the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge such that a selection can be made between the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge to match the first timeframe or the second timeframe with a healing window of the patient tissue. manufacturing a first staple cartridge having first staples (100, 222, 2130, 2130a, 2130b, 2230, 2330, 2430, 2530, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3800, 3800', 4000, 4200, 4400, 4600, 4800, 5100, 5300, 5500, 6000, 6100, 6300, 6300', 6300", 6700, 6700', 6800, 6800', 7000, 7820, 7820', 7820", 8220, 8220', 8220", 9220", 9800, 10120, 10220, 10320) stored therein, wherein the first staple cartridge is useable with a surgical stapling instrument; manufacturing a second staple cartridge having second staples (100, 222, 2130, 2130a, 2130b, 2230, 2330, 2430, 2530, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3800, 3800', 4000, 4200, 4400, 4600, 4800, 5100, 5300, 5500, 6000, 6100, 6300, 6300', 6300", 6700, 6700', 6800, 6800', 7000, 7820, 7820', 7820", 8220, 8220', 8220", 9220", 9800, 10120, 10220, 10320) stored therein, wherein the second staple cartridge is useable with the surgical stapling instrument; characterized in that: the first staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the first staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a first timeframe, the second staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the second staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a second timeframe which is longer than the first timeframe; and the method further comprises offering the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge such that a selection can be made between the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge to match the first timeframe or the second timeframe with a healing window of the patient tissue. the first staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the first staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a first timeframe, the second staples degrade in the patient after being implanted in the patient, wherein the second staples transition from a functional state to a degraded non-functional state in a second timeframe which is longer than the first timeframe; and the method further comprises offering the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge such that a selection can be made between the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge to match the first timeframe or the second timeframe with a healing window of the patient tissue.