	US 11,672,536 B2
	Layer of material for a surgical end effector
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Charles J. Scheib, Loveland, OH (US); Michael S. Cropper, Edgewood, KY (US); Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US); Hamilton E. Gonzalez, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Gregory W. Johnson, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 12, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/900,287.
Application 16/900,287 is a continuation of application No. 16/434,317, filed on Jun. 7, 2019.
Application 16/434,317 is a continuation of application No. 16/188,107, filed on Nov. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,945,731.
Application 16/188,107 is a continuation of application No. 15/800,713, filed on Nov. 1, 2017, granted, now 11,504,116.
Application 15/800,713 is a continuation of application No. 13/766,325, filed on Feb. 13, 2013, abandoned.
Application 13/766,325 is a continuation of application No. 13/433,129, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, granted, now 9,211,120, issued on Dec. 15, 2015.
Application 16/188,107 is a continuation of application No. 13/433,141, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, granted, now 10,123,798, issued on Nov. 13, 2018.
Application 13/433,141 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/097,891, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, granted, now 8,864,009, issued on Oct. 21, 2014.
Application 13/097,891 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/894,377, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, granted, now 8,393,514, issued on Mar. 12, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0330092 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01); A61L 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)

CPC A61B 17/07292 (2013.01) [A61B 17/00491 (2013.01); A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 17/1155 (2013.01); A61L 17/005 (2013.01); A61B 17/0644 (2013.01); A61B 17/2909 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00004 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0053 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00561 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00818 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00884 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00889 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00893 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00898 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00942 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00951 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07228 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07235 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07242 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07264 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2908 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2919 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2933 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2936 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0811 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61L 2300/102 (2013.01); A61L 2300/232 (2013.01); A61L 2300/45 (2013.01); F04C 2270/0421 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)]

18 Claims

1. A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge deck, wherein said staple cartridge defines a longitudinal axis;

a firing member;

a longitudinal slot extending through said staple cartridge, wherein said longitudinal slot is configured to receive said firing member, and wherein said firing member moves within said longitudinal slot during a firing motion;

staple cavities defined in said deck;

staples removably stored in said staple cavities;

staple drivers configured to support said staples within said staple cavities; and

a tissue thickness compensator, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises:

an uncompressed height;

a compressed height;

an outer layer; and

tube structures disposed within said outer layer, wherein said tube structures extend across said longitudinal slot, wherein said staples are partially deployed through at least one of said tube structures on a first side of said longitudinal slot and another of said tube structures on a second side of said longitudinal slot during the firing motion, wherein said tube structures are configured to collapse when pressure is applied to said tissue thickness compensator by tissue during the firing motion, wherein said staples are deformed to a formed height during the firing motion, wherein said uncompressed height of said tissue thickness compensator is greater than the formed height of said staples, and wherein said compressed height of said tissue thickness compensator varies based on the pressure applied by the tissue during the firing motion.