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 . A staple cartridge assembly for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a cartridge body;   a proximal end;   a distal end;   a deck configured to support the tissue;   staple cavities defined in said deck;   staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   an implantable layer positioned over said deck, wherein said layer comprises extensions removably positioned within said staple cavities, and wherein said extensions resist relative movement between said layer and said cartridge body;   a first securement extending laterally over said layer adjacent said proximal end; and   a second securement extending laterally over said layer adjacent said distal end, wherein said first securement and said second securement releasably secure said layer to said cartridge body.   
     
     
         18 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first securement is broken to release a proximal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         19 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said second securement is released from said cartridge body to release a distal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         20 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said extensions comprise a first extension and a second extension, and wherein said first extension is positioned laterally with respect to said second extension. 
     
     
         21 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot defined therein, wherein said layer extends over said longitudinal slot, wherein said first extension extends into a staple cavity on a first side of said longitudinal slot, and wherein said second extension extends into a staple cavity on a second side of said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         22 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples. 
     
     
         23 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a proximal connector configured to be assembled to a shaft of a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         24 . A fastener cartridge assembly for fastening the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a cartridge body;   a proximal end;   a distal end;   a deck configured to support the tissue;   fastener cavities defined in said deck;   fasteners removably stored in said fastener cavities;   an implantable layer positioned over said deck, wherein said layer comprises projections removably positioned within said fastener cavities, and wherein the interaction between said projections and said staple cavities resists relative movement between said layer and said cartridge body;   a first anchor extending laterally over said layer adjacent said proximal end; and   a second anchor extending laterally over said layer adjacent said distal end, wherein said first anchor and said second anchor releasably secure said layer to said cartridge body.   
     
     
         25 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said first anchor is broken to release a proximal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         26 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said second anchor is released from said cartridge body to release a distal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         27 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said projections comprise a first projection and a second projection, and wherein said first projection is positioned laterally with respect to said second projection. 
     
     
         28 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot defined therein, wherein said layer extends over said longitudinal slot, wherein said first projection extends into a fastener cavity on a first side of said longitudinal slot, and wherein said second projection extends into a fastener cavity on a second side of said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         29 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples. 
     
     
         30 . The fastener cartridge assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising a proximal connector configured to be assembled to a shaft of a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         31 . A staple cartridge assembly for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a cartridge body;   a proximal end;   a distal end;   a deck configured to support the tissue;   staple cavities defined in said deck;   staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   an implantable layer positioned over said deck, wherein said layer comprises downwardly-extending securements removably positioned within said staple cavities, and wherein said downwardly-extending securements resist lateral movement between said layer and said cartridge body;   a first securement extending laterally over said layer adjacent said proximal end; and   a second securement extending laterally over said layer adjacent said distal end, wherein said first securement and said second securement releasably secure said layer to said cartridge body.   
     
     
         32 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said first securement is broken to release a proximal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         33 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 32 , wherein said second securement is released from said cartridge body to release a distal end of said layer from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         34 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 31 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples. 
     
     
         35 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 34 , further comprising a proximal connector configured to be assembled to a shaft of a surgical instrument.