Staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator
View Patent ↗A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface, and a plurality of staple cavities. Each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of wells. Each well comprises sidewalls and a lowermost surface. The sidewalls of each well extend into the cartridge body from the deck to the lowermost surface. The plurality of wells comprises a first well and a second well laterally offset with respect to the first well. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities and a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions. The plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the sidewalls of the first well.
1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface; and
a plurality of wells, wherein each well comprises sidewalls and a lowermost surface, wherein the sidewalls of each well extend into the cartridge body from the deck to the lowermost surface of the well, and wherein the plurality of wells comprises:
a first well; and
a second well laterally offset with respect to the first well;
a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises:
a compensator body; and
a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the sidewalls of the first well.
2. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lowermost surfaces is positioned intermediate the deck and the bottom surface of the cartridge body.
3. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein each well surrounds at least one staple cavity.
4. A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end;
a knife slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;
a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck;
a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface; and
a plurality of recesses, wherein each recess surrounds at least one staple cavity, and wherein the plurality of recesses comprises a first recess comprising:
a first lower surface intermediate the deck and the bottom surface; and
opposing sidewalls extending from the deck to the first lower surface;
a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities; and
a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises:
a compensator body; and
a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the recesses, wherein the plurality of extensions comprises a first extension compressed between the opposing sidewalls of the first recess.
5. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the recesses asymmetrically surrounds at least one staple cavity.
6. The staple cartridge of claim 4 , further comprising a sled configured to move along the knife slot of the cartridge body to fire the staples from the staple cavities.
7. The staple cartridge of claim 6 , wherein a retention force between the extensions and the recesses secures the tissue thickness compensator to the cartridge body, and wherein a firing force on the staples from the sled is configured to overcome the retention force to release the tissue thickness compensator from the cartridge body.