Surgical stapling apparatus including releasable buttress

Abstract

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge body, a plurality of staples disposed within the cartridge body, a tissue contacting surface on the cartridge body defining staple retaining slots dimensioned to releasably retain a staple, and a buttress material including at least one weld joining the buttress material to the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body. The at least one weld is positioned to at least partially overlie a staple retaining slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, the staple cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body;   a plurality of staples disposed within the cartridge body, each staple including a crown and at least one leg depending from the crown;   a tissue contacting surface of the cartridge body defining staple retaining slots,   each staple retaining slot having a first end and a second end; and   a buttress material secured to the cartridge body by at least one weld joining the buttress material to the tissue contacting surface,   the at least one weld being in registration with at least one of the first end and second end of each staple retaining slot such that the at least one leg of the staple impacts the at least one weld when the staple is ejected from the staple retaining slot.   
     
     
         3 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the staple retaining slots include a first staple retaining slot; and
 the buttress material being secured by a first weld and a second weld, the first weld being in registration with the first end of the first staple retaining slot, and the second weld being in registration with the second end of the first staple retaining slot.   
     
     
         4 . The staple cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein the staple includes a pair of legs, the pair of legs impacting the first and second welds when the staple is ejected from the first staple retaining slot. 
     
     
         5 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the buttress material is secured by a plurality of welds in registration with at least the first end and second end of each staple retaining slot of the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the buttress material is secured by a plurality of welds in registration with at least the first end and second end of a portion of the staple retaining slots of the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The staple cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of welds are distributed in a pattern over the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         8 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the buttress material is porous. 
     
     
         9 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the buttress material is non-porous. 
     
     
         10 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one weld is a portion of the buttress material. 
     
     
         11 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the staple retaining slots are arranged in an annular configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The staple cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the buttress material is secured to the cartridge body at a plurality of welds that are in registration with the first and second ends of the staple retaining slots of the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         13 . The staple cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the tissue contacting surface includes at least two rows of staple retaining slots. 
     
     
         14 . The staple cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two rows of staple retaining slots are positioned in one of a linear configuration and an annular configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling apparatus, the staple cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots, each staple retaining slot having a first end and second end; and   a buttress material secured to the cartridge body by at least one weld joining the buttress material to the tissue contacting surface, the at least one weld being in registration with at least one of the first end and the second end of each staple retaining slot.   
     
     
         16 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the staple retaining slots include a first staple retaining slot; and
 the buttress material being secured by a first weld and a second weld, the first weld being in registration with the first end of the first staple retaining slot, and the second weld being in registration with the second end of the first staple retaining slot.   
     
     
         17 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the buttress material is secured by a plurality of welds in registration with at least the first end and the second end of each staple retaining slot of the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         18 . The staple cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the buttress material is secured by a plurality of welds in registration with at least the first end and the second end of a portion of the staple retaining slots of the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         19 . The staple cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of welds are distributed in a pattern over the tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , including a plurality of staples disposed within the cartridge body, wherein at least one of the plurality of staples impact the at least one weld when the plurality of staples are ejected from the staple retaining slots. 
     
     
         21 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the buttress material is porous. 
     
     
         22 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the buttress material is non-porous. 
     
     
         23 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the staple retaining slots are arranged in an annular configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The staple cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue contacting surface includes at least two rows of staple retaining slots. 
     
     
         25 . The staple cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the at least two rows of staple retaining slots are positioned in one of a linear configuration and an annular configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The staple cartridge of  claim 25 , wherein the buttress material is secured to the cartridge body at a plurality of welds that are in registration with the first and second ends of the staple retaining slots of the tissue contacting surface.