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; 
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side; 
 staple cavities; and 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
   an anvil configured to deform said staples;   buttress material positioned over said deck;   a proximal fastener arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said proximal end of said staple cartridge body;   a distal fastener arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said distal end of said staple cartridge body; and   an absorbable polymer adhesive interconnecting said buttress material with said staple cartridge body which is configured to releasably prevent said buttress material from displacing relative to said deck.   
     
     
         18 . The end effector of  claim 17 , further comprising a firing member movable toward said distal end to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector of  claim 17 , wherein said absorbable polymer adhesive comprises urethane. 
     
     
         20 . 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; 
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side; 
 staple cavities; and 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities; 
   an anvil configured to deform said staples;   buttress material positioned over said deck;   a proximal anchor arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said proximal end of said staple cartridge body;   a distal anchor arrangement which extends laterally across said buttress material at said distal end of said staple cartridge body; and   an absorbable polymer interconnecting said buttress material with said staple cartridge body which is configured to releasably inhibit said buttress material from being displaced relative to said deck.   
     
     
         21 . The end effector of  claim 20 , further comprising a firing member movable toward said distal end to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke. 
     
     
         22 . The end effector of  claim 20 , wherein said absorbable polymer comprises urethane. 
     
     
         23 . An end effector for fastening the tissue of a patient, comprising:
 a fastener cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck configured to support the tissue; 
 a first lateral side; 
 a second lateral side; 
 fastener cavities; and 
 fasteners removably stored in said fastener cavities; 
   a layer positioned over said deck;   a proximal attachment arrangement which extends laterally across said layer at said proximal end of said fastener cartridge body;   a distal attachment arrangement which extends laterally across said layer at said distal end of said fastener cartridge body; and   an absorbable polymer attaching said layer to said fastener cartridge body which is configured to releasably restrain said layer from being displaced relative to said deck.   
     
     
         24 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising a firing member movable toward said distal end to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities during a firing stroke. 
     
     
         25 . The end effector of  claim 23 , wherein said absorbable polymer comprises urethane.