US 12,213,666 B2
Tissue thickness compensator comprising layers
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Tamara S. Widenhouse, Clarksville, OH (US); Mark D. Timmer, Jersey City, NJ (US); Steven G. Hall, Cincinnati, OH (US); Richard W. Timm, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Matthew M. Lang, Eaton, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on May 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/745,110.
Application 17/745,110 is a continuation of application No. 17/197,510, filed on Mar. 10, 2021.
Application 17/197,510 is a continuation of application No. 16/233,521, filed on Dec. 27, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/233,521 is a continuation of application No. 14/992,475, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, abandoned.
Application 14/992,475 is a continuation of application No. 13/433,102, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, granted, now 9,232,941, issued on Jan. 12, 2016.
Application 13/433,102 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 2022/0338870 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 90/92 (2016.01); A61B 17/295 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 50/30 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/0643 (2013.01) [A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 17/00491 (2013.01); A61B 17/064 (2013.01); A61B 17/0644 (2013.01); A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 17/07292 (2013.01); A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 17/1155 (2013.01); A61B 17/2909 (2013.01); A61B 90/92 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00004 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00314 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00495 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0053 (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 2017/0641 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07228 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07235 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07242 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0725 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07264 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2902 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2908 (2013.01); A61B 2017/291 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2919 (2013.01); A61B 2017/292 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2931 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2933 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2936 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01); A61B 50/30 (2016.02); A61B 2050/3008 (2016.02); A61B 2050/314 (2016.02); A61B 2090/037 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0801 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0807 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0811 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A staple cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a deck comprising a top surface; and
a plurality of staple cavities defined in said deck;
a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities, wherein each staple of said plurality of staples comprises a base and legs extending from said base;
a plurality of staple drivers movable from an unfired position to a fired position during a staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities and implant said staples into patient tissue;
a sled movable from a proximal position to a distal position during said staple firing stroke to move said staple drivers from said unfired position to said fired position; and
a tissue thickness compensator removably attached to said top surface of said deck, wherein said legs move through said tissue thickness compensator as said staples are ejected from said staple cavities, wherein implanting said staples into said patient tissue secures said tissue thickness compensator to said patient tissue, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises:
a first layer having a first rate of bioabsorption and a first density, wherein pressing said tissue thickness compensator against said patient tissue prior to ejecting said staples causes said first layer to transition from a first uncompressed height to a first compressed height; and
a second layer having a second rate of bioabsorption and a second density, wherein said second rate of bioabsorption is greater than said first rate of bioabsorption, wherein pressing said tissue thickness compensator against said patient tissue prior to ejecting said staples causes said second layer to transition from a second uncompressed height to a second compressed height, wherein said first uncompressed height is greater than said second uncompressed height, wherein said second density is greater than said first density such that said first layer is more compressible than said second layer, and wherein said first compressed height is greater than said second compressed height such that a larger portion of each said leg is exposed to said first layer compared to said second layer after said staples are initially implanted into said patient tissue.