Tissue stapler having a thickness compensator incorporating an anti-microbial agent

Abstract

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having an anti-microbial agent embedded therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly is adapted to be used with tissue having a thickness, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a support portion, wherein said support portion comprises a plurality of staple cavities, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening;   a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between a said unfired position and a said fired position; and   a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within said staples, wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers said staple cavity openings, and wherein said compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having a antimicrobial agent embedded therein.   
     
     
         2 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial generating agent comprises at least one of: Triclosan, Chlorhexidine, Silver formulations (like nano- crystalline silver), LAE (Lauric arginate ethyl ester), Octenidine, PHMB (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide), Taurolidine. 
     
     
         3 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprises an uncompressed thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said tissue. 
     
     
         4 . A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly is adapted to be used with tissue having a thickness within a range of tissue thicknesses, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a support portion, wherein said support portion comprises a plurality of staple cavities, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening;   a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between a said unfired position and a said fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises:
 a base; and 
 at least one leg extending from said base, wherein said at least one leg is deformable to capture said tissue between said at least one leg and said base when each said staple is deformed between said unfired configuration and said fired configuration; and 
   compressible compensation means for biasing said tissue against at least one of said leg and said base, wherein said compressible compensation means is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, said compressible compensation means comprising a lyophilized foam having an antimicrobial generating agent embedded therein.   
     
     
         5 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said antimicrobial generating agent comprises at least one of: Triclosan, Chlorhexidine, Silver formulations (like nano- crystalline silver), LAE (Lauric arginate ethyl ester), Octenidine, PHMB (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide), Taurolidine. 
     
     
         6 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said compressible compensation means removably covers said staple cavity openings. 
     
     
         7 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said compressible compensation means comprises an uncompressed thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said tissue. 
     
     
         8 . A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein said staple cartridge assembly is adapted to be used with tissue having a thickness within a range of tissue thicknesses, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a support portion, wherein said support portion comprises a plurality of staple cavities, and wherein each said staple cavity comprises an opening;   a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each said staple is removably stored within a said staple cavity, wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein each said staple is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration when each said staple is moved between a said unfired position and a said fired position, and wherein each said staple comprises:
 a base; and 
 at least one leg extending from said base, wherein said at least one leg is deformable to capture said tissue between said at least one leg and said base when each said staple is deformed between said unfired configuration and said fired configuration, wherein each said staple defines a deformed height in said fired configuration, and wherein said deformed height of at least some of said staples is larger than said tissue thickness whereby a gap distance is defined between said tissue and a portion of each said staple; and 
   tissue thickness compensation means for filling each said gap distance, wherein said tissue thickness compensation means is configured to assume different compressed heights within different said staples, said tissue thickness compensation means comprising a lyophilized foam having an antimicrobial generating agent embedded therein.   
     
     
         9 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said antimicrobial generating agent comprises at least one of: Triclosan, Chlorhexidine, Silver formulations (like nano- crystalline silver), LAE (Lauric arginate ethyl ester), Octenidine, PHMB (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide), Taurolidine. 
     
     
         10 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said tissue thickness compensation means removably covers said staple cavity openings. 
     
     
         11 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said tissue thickness compensation means comprises an uncompressed thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said tissue.