Patent ID: 8746535

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; 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, and wherein said plurality of staples comprises a first group of staples and a second group of staples; and an implantable compressible portion extending above said deck and comprising a tissue contacting surface, wherein said implantable compressible portion is separate and distinct from said cartridge body, wherein each said staple moves at least partially through said tissue contacting surface when moved to said fired position, and wherein said implantable compressible portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is removably attached to said second portion, wherein said first portion is configured to be captured within each said staple of said first group of staples when said staples of said first group of staples are moved to said fired position, and wherein said second portion is configured to be captured within each said staple of said second group of staples when said staples of said second group of staples are moved to said fired position.