US 11,883,025 B2
Tissue thickness compensator comprising a plurality of layers
Hamilton E. González, Cincinnati, OH (US); Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US); Michael S. Cropper, Edgewood, KY (US); Charles J. Scheib, Loveland, OH (US); Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, 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 Mar. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/191,999.
Application 15/232,852 is a division of application No. 13/433,103, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, granted, now 9,433,419, issued on Sep. 6, 2016.
Application 17/191,999 is a continuation of application No. 15/232,852, filed on Aug. 10, 2016, granted, now 10,987,102.
Application 13/433,103 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/894,388, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, granted, now 8,474,677, issued on Jul. 2, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0259687 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/07292 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00884 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00893 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07235 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
8. A fastener cartridge assembly for a surgical instrument, the fastener cartridge assembly comprising:
a tissue thickness compensator comprising:
a first compensation layer;
a second compensation layer; and
a first structure between said first compensation layer and said second compensation layer, wherein said first structure comprises a support, and wherein said support is configured to bow when said layer is compressed;
a second structure positioned between said first compensation layer and said second compensation layer, wherein said first structure and said second structure are situated separately in between said first compensation layer and said second compensation layer and comprise different shapes; and
a fastener cartridge comprising a fastener, wherein said fastener is moveable between an initial position and a fired position, and wherein said fastener is configured to pass through said first structure and said second structure when said fastener is moved to said fired position.