Patent ID: 8777004

Claim:
A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body, comprising: a deck; and a plurality of staple cavities defined within said deck, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said deck; an implantable compressible portion positioned above 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 extends above said deck and is at least partially positioned within said compressible portion when each said staple is positioned in said unfired 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 assume different compressed heights within different said staples when said staples are deformed between said unfired configuration and said fired configuration; and an array of retainers positioned above said implantable compressible portion, wherein each said retainer comprises a staple guide, and wherein at least a portion of each said staple is positioned within a said staple guide when said staple is in said unfired position.