Patent ID: 8157151

Claim:
A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a cartridge assembly defining a first tissue contacting surface, the cartridge assembly housing a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, the cartridge assembly defining at least one distal attachment point and at least one proximal attachment point; an anvil assembly defining a second tissue contacting surface, the anvil assembly movably secured in relation to cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly defining at least one distal attachment point and at least one proximal attachment point, wherein the at least one proximal attachment point of the anvil assembly is offset an axial distance from the at least one proximal attachment point of the cartridge assembly; and a surgical buttress releasably secured to each of the first tissue contacting surface and the second tissue contacting surface, the surgical buttress including a body portion configured to substantially overlie at least one of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces of either the first length and second length cartridge assembly and anvil assembly; wherein each surgical buttress defines a distal attachment feature for registration with the distal attachment point of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly; wherein each surgical buttress defines a first proximal attachment feature and a second proximal attachment feature offset an axial distance from the first proximal attachment feature; wherein the first proximal attachment feature registers with the proximal attachment point of the cartridge assembly; and wherein the second proximal attachment feature registers with the proximal attachment point of the anvil assembly.