LAYER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGES
A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.
1 - 16 . (canceled)
17 . A staple cartridge for stapling tissue, comprising:
a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot;
a first longitudinal step; and
a second longitudinal step, wherein said first step is adjacent to said second step, and wherein said first step is positioned vertically above said second step;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
buttress material positioned over said first step and said second step;
a proximal anchor releasably holding said buttress material to said deck; and
a distal anchor releasably holding said buttress material to said deck.
18 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first step and said second step.
19 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising an angled surface between said first step and said second step.
20 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first step and said second step.
21 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first step and said second step.
22 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first step and said second step.
23 . An end effector for stapling tissue, comprising:
a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot;
a first longitudinal plateau; and
a second longitudinal plateau, wherein said first plateau extends alongside said second plateau, and wherein said first plateau is positioned above said second plateau;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal plateau;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal plateau;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
a layer positioned over said first plateau and said second plateau, wherein said layer comprises a proximal end and a distal end;
a proximal mount which releasably holds said proximal end of said layer to said deck; and
a distal mount which releasably holds said distal end of said layer to said deck.
24 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first plateau and said second plateau.
25 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising an angled surface between said first plateau and said second plateau.
26 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first plateau and said second plateau.
27 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first plateau and said second plateau.
28 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first plateau and said second plateau.
29 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples.
30 . The end effector of claim 23 , further comprising a cutting member configured to move within said longitudinal slot and incise said layer.
31 . An end effector for stapling tissue, comprising:
a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot;
a first longitudinal step; and
a second longitudinal step, wherein said first step is above said second step;
fastener cavities;
fasteners removably stored in said fastener cavities;
a layer positioned over said first step and said second step, wherein said layer comprises a proximal end and a distal end;
a proximal anchor configured to releasably hold said proximal end of said layer to said deck; and
a distal anchor configured to releasably hold said distal end of said layer to said deck.
32 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first step and said second step.
33 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising an angled surface between said first step and said second step.
34 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first step and said second step.
35 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first step and said second step.
36 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first step and said second step.
37 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said fasteners.
38 . The end effector of claim 31 , further comprising a cutting member configured to move within said longitudinal slot and incise said layer.
39 . A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:
a cartridge body configured to support the tissue, said cartridge body comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal slot;
a first longitudinal surface in a first plane; and
a second longitudinal surface in a second plane, wherein said first surface is adjacent to said second surface, and wherein said first surface is vertically offset from said second surface forming a stepped cartridge deck;
a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first surface;
a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second surface;
staples removably stored in said staple cavities of said first row and said staple cavities of said second row;
buttress material positioned over said first surface and said second surface;
a proximal connector releasably holding said buttress material to said proximal end; and
a distal connector releasably holding said buttress material to said distal end.
40 . The staple cartridge assembly of claim 39 , further comprising a third longitudinal surface extending between said first surface and said second surface, and wherein said first surface is laterally offset from said second surface.