Staple cartridge assembly comprising various tissue compression gaps and staple forming gaps

Abstract

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a deck; and 
 a staple cavity defined in said deck; and 
   a bioabsorbable staple removably stored in said staple cavity, wherein said staple comprises a frame, wherein said frame comprises magnesium, and wherein said frame comprises a treated surface configured to affect a bioabsorption rate of said frame.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said treated surface comprises a plasma-treated surface. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said treated surface comprises a laser-treated surface. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said treated surface comprises magnesium nitride. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said treated surface comprises a coating including carbon. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said treated surface comprises at least one aperture. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said staple comprises a coating applied to said treated surface. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 27 , wherein said coating is configured to delay the initiation of bioabsorption of said frame after said staple is implanted into patient tissue. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 28 , wherein said coating comprises sodium stearate. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 29 , wherein said coating comprises an anti-microbial agent. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said anti-microbial comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE). 
     
     
         32 . A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a deck; and 
 a staple cavity defined in said deck; and 
   a bioabsorbable staple removably stored in said staple cavity, wherein said staple comprises a frame, wherein said frame comprises magnesium, and wherein a surface of said frame is treated with a coating configured to delay the initiation of bioabsorption of said frame after said staple is implanted into patient tissue.   
     
     
         33 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 32 , wherein said coating comprises a bioabsorbable polymer. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 32 , wherein said coating is a first coating, and wherein said staple further comprises a second coating applied to said first coating. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 34 , wherein said second coating comprises sodium stearate. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 35 , wherein said second coating comprises an anti-microbial agent. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 36 , wherein said anti-microbial comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE). 
     
     
         38 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 32 , wherein said surface of said frame is treated with a surface treatment configured to decrease a bioabsorption rate of said frame. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein said surface treatment comprises hardening said surface with a plasma discharge hardening process. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein said surface treatment comprises hardening said surface with a laser hardening process. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 38 , wherein said surface treatment comprises hardening said surface by exposing said surface to a nitrogen-rich environment. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 32 , wherein said surface of said frame is treated with a surface treatment configured to increase a bioabsorption rate of said frame. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 42 , wherein said surface treatment comprises increasing a surface area of said surface by creating at least one aperture therein.