ABSORBABLE SURGICAL STAPLES COMPRISING SUFFICIENT STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES DURING A TISSUE HEALING WINDOW
Bioabsorbable staples are disclosed that have sufficient mechanical properties throughout a healing window of patient tissue.
1 . A system of staple cartridges, comprising:
a first staple cartridge, comprising:
a first cartridge body; and
first staples removably stored in said first cartridge body, wherein said first staples are comprised of a magnesium alloy, and wherein said first staples are configured to fracture within 30 days after being implanted in a patient; and
a second staple cartridge, comprising:
a second cartridge body; and
second staples removably stored in said second cartridge body, wherein said second staples are comprised of a titanium alloy, wherein said second staples are configured to fracture after 30 days after being implanted in a patient, and wherein said second staples are stiffer than said first staples.
2 . A system of staple cartridges, comprising:
a first staple cartridge, comprising:
a first cartridge body; and
first staples removably stored in said first cartridge body, wherein said first staples are comprised of a first alloy, and wherein said first staples are configured to fracture within 100 days after being implanted in a patient; and
a second staple cartridge, comprising:
a second cartridge body; and
second staples removably stored in said second cartridge body, wherein said second staples are comprised of a titanium alloy, wherein said second staples are configured to fracture after 100 days after being implanted in a patient, and wherein said second staples are stiffer than said first staples.
3 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 2 , wherein said first alloy is a magnesium alloy.
4 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 2 , wherein said first alloy is a zinc alloy.
5 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 2 , wherein said first alloy is an iron alloy.
6 . A system of staple cartridges, comprising:
a first staple cartridge, comprising:
a first cartridge body; and
first staples removably stored in said first cartridge body, wherein said first staples are comprised of a magnesium alloy, and wherein said first staples are configured to be completely bioabsorbed within 30 days after being implanted in a patient; and
a second staple cartridge, comprising:
a second cartridge body; and
second staples removably stored in said second cartridge body, wherein said second staples are comprised of a titanium alloy, wherein said second staples are configured to be completely bioabsorbed after 30 days after being implanted in a patient, and wherein said second staples are stiffer than said first staples.
7 . A system of staple cartridges, comprising:
a first staple cartridge, comprising:
a first cartridge body; and
first staples removably stored in said first cartridge body, wherein said first staples are comprised of a first alloy, and wherein said first staples are configured to be completely bioabsorbed within 100 days after being implanted in a patient; and
a second staple cartridge, comprising:
a second cartridge body; and
second staples removably stored in said second cartridge body, wherein said second staples are comprised of a titanium alloy, wherein said second staples are configured to be completely bioabsorbed after 100 days after being implanted in a patient, and wherein said second staples are stiffer than said first staples.
8 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 7 , wherein said first alloy is a magnesium alloy.
9 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 7 , wherein said first alloy is a zinc alloy.
10 . The system of staple cartridges of claim 7 , wherein said first alloy is an iron alloy.
11 . A system of staple cartridges for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said system comprising:
a first staple cartridge, comprising:
a first cartridge body; and
first staples removably stored in said first cartridge body, wherein said first staples are comprised of a first alloy, wherein said first staples are configured to fracture within a first bioabsorption period after being implanted in a patient, and wherein said first alloy comprises a first ductility; and
a second staple cartridge, comprising:
a second cartridge body; and
second staples removably stored in said second cartridge body, wherein said second staples are comprised of a second alloy, wherein said second staples are configured to fracture within a second bioabsorption period after being implanted in a patient, wherein said second alloy comprises a second ductility, wherein said second bioabsorption period is shorter than said first bioabsorption period, and wherein said first ductility is greater than said second ductility.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said second alloy comprises a magnesium alloy.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises Mg-1.34Ca-3Zn.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises Mg-6Zn-0.1Zr.
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises Mg-14Zn.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises Mg-9Li.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises Mg-0.5Fe.
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises rare earth elements.
19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said magnesium alloy comprises zinc, zirconium, and iron.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said second alloy comprises a zinc alloy.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes copper.
22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes titanium.
23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes manganese.
24 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes iron.
25 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes strontium.
26 . The system of claim 20 , wherein said zinc alloy includes calcium.
27 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said second alloy comprises an iron alloy.
28 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said first alloy comprises a titanium alloy.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said titanium alloy is 3AL-2V titanium.
30 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said first alloy comprises a stainless steel alloy.
31 - 91 . (canceled)