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 for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a longitudinal slot; 
 a first longitudinal step; and 
 a second longitudinal step, wherein said first step is adjacent to said second step, and wherein said first step is positioned vertically above said second step; 
   a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal step;   a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal step;   staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   buttress material positioned over said first step and said second step;   a proximal anchor releasably holding said buttress material to said deck; and   a distal anchor releasably holding said buttress material to said deck.   
     
     
         18 . The staple cartridge of  claim 17 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         19 . The staple cartridge of  claim 17 , further comprising an angled surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         20 . The staple cartridge of  claim 17 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         21 . The staple cartridge of  claim 17 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         22 . The staple cartridge of  claim 17 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         23 . An end effector for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a longitudinal slot; 
 a first longitudinal plateau; and 
 a second longitudinal plateau, wherein said first plateau extends alongside said second plateau, and wherein said first plateau is positioned above said second plateau; 
   a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first longitudinal plateau;   a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second longitudinal plateau;   staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   a layer positioned over said first plateau and said second plateau, wherein said layer comprises a proximal end and a distal end;   a proximal mount which releasably holds said proximal end of said layer to said deck; and   a distal mount which releasably holds said distal end of said layer to said deck.   
     
     
         24 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first plateau and said second plateau. 
     
     
         25 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising an angled surface between said first plateau and said second plateau. 
     
     
         26 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first plateau and said second plateau. 
     
     
         27 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first plateau and said second plateau. 
     
     
         28 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first plateau and said second plateau. 
     
     
         29 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples. 
     
     
         30 . The end effector of  claim 23 , further comprising a cutting member configured to move within said longitudinal slot and incise said layer. 
     
     
         31 . An end effector for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a deck configured to support the tissue, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a longitudinal slot; 
 a first longitudinal step; and 
 a second longitudinal step, wherein said first step is above said second step; 
   fastener cavities;   fasteners removably stored in said fastener cavities;   a layer positioned over said first step and said second step, wherein said layer comprises a proximal end and a distal end;   a proximal anchor configured to releasably hold said proximal end of said layer to said deck; and   a distal anchor configured to releasably hold said distal end of said layer to said deck.   
     
     
         32 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising a sloped surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         33 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising an angled surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         34 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising a ramped surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         35 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising an inclined surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         36 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising a contoured surface between said first step and said second step. 
     
     
         37 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said fasteners. 
     
     
         38 . The end effector of  claim 31 , further comprising a cutting member configured to move within said longitudinal slot and incise said layer. 
     
     
         39 . A staple cartridge assembly for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a cartridge body configured to support the tissue, said cartridge body comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a longitudinal slot; 
 a first longitudinal surface in a first plane; and 
 a second longitudinal surface in a second plane, wherein said first surface is adjacent to said second surface, and wherein said first surface is vertically offset from said second surface forming a stepped cartridge deck; 
 a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said first surface; 
 a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined in said second surface; 
 staples removably stored in said staple cavities of said first row and said staple cavities of said second row; 
   buttress material positioned over said first surface and said second surface;   a proximal connector releasably holding said buttress material to said proximal end; and   a distal connector releasably holding said buttress material to said distal end.   
     
     
         40 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 39 , further comprising a third longitudinal surface extending between said first surface and said second surface, and wherein said first surface is laterally offset from said second surface.