Layer arrangements for surgical staple cartridges

Abstract

A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An end effector for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a staple cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck configured to support the tissue; 
 staple cavities defined in said deck; and 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
   an anvil configured to deform said staples;   buttress material positioned on said deck;   a proximal fastener arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said proximal end of said cartridge body; and   a distal fastener arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said distal end of said cartridge body.   
     
     
         18 . The end effector of  claim 17 , further comprising an intermediate fastener arrangement positioned intermediate said proximal fastener arrangement and said distal fastener arrangement, wherein said intermediate fastener arrangement is configured to releasably prevent said buttress material from displacing relative to said deck. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector of  claim 18 , wherein said intermediate fastener arrangement is deployed with said buttress material. 
     
     
         20 . The end effector of  claim 17 , further comprising an adhesive configured to releasably hold said buttress material to said deck. 
     
     
         21 . The end effector of  claim 17 , further comprising an attachment portion configured to be attached to a shaft of a surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         22 . The end effector of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body; and   a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot.   
     
     
         23 . The end effector of  claim 17 , wherein said proximal fastener arrangement and said distal fastener arrangement are deployed with said buttress material. 
     
     
         24 . An end effector for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a staple cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck configured to support the tissue; 
 staple cavities defined in said deck; and 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
   an anvil configured to deform said staples;   buttress material positioned on said deck;   a proximal securement arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said proximal end of said cartridge body; and   a distal securement arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said distal end of said cartridge body.   
     
     
         25 . The end effector of  claim 24 , further comprising an intermediate securement positioned intermediate said proximal securement arrangement and said distal securement arrangement, wherein said intermediate securement is configured to releasably prevent said buttress material from peeling away from said deck. 
     
     
         26 . The end effector of  claim 25 , wherein said intermediate securement comprises an intermediate fastener extending across said buttress material. 
     
     
         27 . The end effector of  claim 25 , wherein said intermediate securement comprises a projection extending from said buttress material, and wherein said projection is releasably press-fit within a said staple cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The end effector of  claim 25 , wherein said intermediate securement is deployed with said buttress material. 
     
     
         29 . The end effector of  claim 24 , further comprising an adhesive configured to releasably hold said buttress material to said deck. 
     
     
         30 . The end effector of  claim 24 , further comprising an attachment portion configured to be attached to a shaft of a surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         31 . The end effector of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body; and   a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot.   
     
     
         32 . The end effector of  claim 24 , wherein said proximal securement arrangement and said distal securement arrangement are deployed with said buttress material. 
     
     
         33 . An end effector for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a staple cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck configured to support the tissue; 
 staple cavities defined in said deck; and 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
   an anvil configured to deform said staples;   a layer positioned on said deck;   a proximal securement which extends laterally across said layer at said proximal end of said cartridge body; and   a distal securement which extends laterally across said layer at said distal end of said cartridge body.   
     
     
         34 . The end effector of  claim 33 , further comprising an intermediate securement positioned intermediate said proximal securement and said distal securement, wherein said intermediate securement is configured to releasably prevent said layer from lifting off of said deck. 
     
     
         35 . The end effector of  claim 34 , wherein said intermediate securement comprises an intermediate fastener extending over said layer. 
     
     
         36 . The end effector of  claim 34 , wherein said intermediate securement comprises a projection extending from said layer, and wherein said projection is releasably press-fit within a said staple cavity. 
     
     
         37 . The end effector of  claim 34 , wherein said intermediate securement is deployed with said layer. 
     
     
         38 . The end effector of  claim 33 , further comprising an adhesive configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck. 
     
     
         39 . The end effector of  claim 33 , further comprising an attachment portion configured to be attached to a shaft of a surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         40 . The end effector of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body; and   a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot.   
     
     
         41 . The end effector of  claim 33 , wherein said proximal securement and said distal securement are deployed with said layer.