Staple cartridge comprising staples positioned within a compressible portion thereof

Abstract

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a rigid support portion, comprising:
 a support surface; 
 a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support surface; 
 
 a compressible implantable portion positioned relative to said support surface, wherein said implantable portion comprises a tissue-contacting surface; and 
   a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises:
 a base; and 
 at least one staple leg extending from said base, wherein each said staple leg extends above said support surface and is at least partially embedded in said implantable portion when said staples are in their unfired positions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of staple drivers positioned within said cartridge body, wherein said staple drivers are configured to move said staples between their unfired positions and their fired positions. 
     
     
         3 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal cavity extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a sled configured to traverse said longitudinal cavity, and wherein said sled is configured to engage said staple drivers and eject said staples and said implantable portion from said staple cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The staple cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein said staple drivers are comprised of a bioabsorbable material, and wherein said sled is configured to eject said staple drivers with said implantable portion and said staples. 
     
     
         5 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein said support portion comprises a bottom surface, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a pan attached to said support portion, and wherein said pan is configured to at least partially enclose said bottom surface and retain said staple drivers in said cartridge body. 
     
     
         6 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable portion is comprised of compressible foam, wherein said cartridge body further comprises a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, and wherein said protrusions are removably embedded within said implantable portion. 
     
     
         7 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable portion comprises a first height, wherein each said staple defines a staple height when each said staple is in its unfired position, and wherein said first height is taller than said staple height. 
     
     
         8 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable portion comprises a first height, wherein each said staple defines a staple height when said staples are in their unfired position, and wherein said staple height is taller than said first height. 
     
     
         9 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal cavity extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a sled configured to traverse said longitudinal cavity, and wherein said sled is configured to eject said staples and said implantable portion from said staple cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The staple cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein said sled comprises a cutting member, wherein said cartridge body further comprises a longitudinal slot extending through said support surface, and wherein said cutting member is configured to move within said slot. 
     
     
         11 . The staple cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable portion is removably attached to said support portion. 
     
     
         12 . A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a support portion, comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening; and 
 an implantable portion, wherein said implantable portion comprises a tissue-contacting surface; and 
   a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein said staples each comprise a staple leg that extends out of a said staple cavity and is at least partially positioned within said implantable portion when said staples are in their unfired positions.   
     
     
         13 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of staple drivers positioned within said cartridge body, wherein said staple drivers are configured to move said staples between their unfired positions and their fired positions. 
     
     
         14 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal cavity extending between said proximal end and said distal end, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a sled configured to traverse said longitudinal cavity, and wherein said sled is configured to engage said staple drivers and eject said staples and said implantable portion from said staple cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said support portion comprises a bottom surface, wherein said staple cartridge assembly further comprises a pan attached to said support portion, and wherein said pan is configured to at least partially enclose said bottom surface and retain said staple drivers in said cartridge body. 
     
     
         16 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said sled comprises a cutting member, wherein said cartridge body further comprises a longitudinal slot extending through said support surface, and wherein said cutting member is configured to move within said slot. 
     
     
         17 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said implantable portion is comprised of compressible foam, wherein said cartridge body further comprises a plurality of spikes extending therefrom, and wherein said spikes are removably embedded within said implantable portion. 
     
     
         18 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said implantable portion comprises a first height, wherein each said staple defines a staple height when said staples are in their unfired position, and wherein said staple height is taller than said first height. 
     
     
         19 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said implantable portion is attached to said support portion. 
     
     
         20 . A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler configured to staple a patient's tissue, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a support portion; 
 a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening in said support portion; 
 a longitudinal cavity extending between said proximal end and said distal end; and 
 compressible means for applying a compressive force to the tissue; 
   a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple is removably positioned within a said staple cavity; and   a sled movable within said longitudinal cavity, wherein said sled is configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities, and wherein said staples each comprise a staple leg that extends out of a said staple cavity and is at least partially positioned within said compressible means prior to said staples being ejected from said staple cavities.