Retainer assembly including a tissue thickness compensator

Abstract

A retainer for assembling tissue thickness compensators to a surgical stapler can comprise a grip, a first surface for supporting a first tissue thickness compensator, a second surface for supporting a second tissue thickness compensator, and clips for aligning and attaching the retainer to the surgical stapler. The clips may align and attach the retainer to a staple cartridge of the surgical instrument. The clips may align the retainer with an anvil of the surgical instrument. An insertion tool may be used in combination with the retainer to insert the retainer into the surgical stapler and to push the tissue thickness compensators against the anvil and/or the staple cartridge of the surgical instrument.

1 . A staple cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;   a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;   a first tissue thickness compensator;   a retainer coupled to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator is positioned intermediate said cartridge body and said retainer; and   a second tissue thickness compensator attached to at least one of said retainer and said first tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises an anvil attachment portion, wherein said retainer is positioned intermediate said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said retainer is configured to be removed from between said first tissue thickness compensator and said tissue thickness compensators, and wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different staples.   
     
     
         2 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a surface, and wherein said anvil attachment portion comprises an adhesive on said surface of said second tissue thickness compensator. 
     
     
         3 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said adhesive on said surface of said second tissue thickness compensator provides a first retention force to the anvil, wherein said attachment between said second tissue thickness compensator and at least one of said retainer and said first tissue thickness compensator provides a second retention force, and wherein said first retention force is greater than said second retention force. 
     
     
         4 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second tissue thickness compensator further comprises alignment features configured to align with corresponding alignment features on the anvil. 
     
     
         5 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive configured to removably attach said second tissue thickness compensator to said retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer comprises a plurality of clips removably engageable with said cartridge body, wherein said clips are configured to engage said cartridge body so as to define a gap in which said first tissue thickness compensator resides. 
     
     
         7 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to conform to at least a portion of the anvil, wherein said plurality of protrusions are configured to align said retainer with the anvil. 
     
     
         8 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second tissue thickness compensator defines an aperture, and wherein said retainer comprises a protrusion extending through said aperture, and wherein said protrusion is configured to mate with a channel in the anvil. 
     
     
         9 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to conform to at least a portion of the anvil, wherein said plurality of protrusions are configured to move relative to the anvil and align said second tissue thickness compensator with the anvil. 
     
     
         10 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sock coupled to said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said sock is configured to slide relative to and over the anvil. 
     
     
         11 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said sock and said second tissue thickness compensator define perforations configured to enable said second tissue thickness compensator to tear away from said sock. 
     
     
         12 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer defines an aperture; and wherein said second tissue thickness compensator is connected to said first tissue thickness compensator by a connector extending through said aperture in said retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said aperture defined by said retainer comprises a cutting edge configured to cut said connector when said retainer is removed from said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator. 
     
     
         14 . The staple cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retainer comprises a plurality of clips configured to releasably engage said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator includes an adhesive surface configured to adhere to the anvil, and wherein said plurality of clips are configured to detach from said second tissue thickness compensator after said adhesive surface adheres to the anvil. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge assembly system for a surgical stapler, comprising:
 a staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities; 
   a retainer, comprising:
 a first retainer plate; 
 a second retainer plate; 
 a connector connecting said first retainer plate and said second retainer plate, wherein said first retainer plate is pivotable relative to said second retainer plate about said connector; and 
 a first cam on one of said first retainer plate and said second retainer plate; 
   a first biocompatible layer removably attached to said cartridge body and removably attached to the first retainer plate;   a second biocompatible layer removably attached to said second retainer plate, wherein said first biocompatible layer and said second biocompatible layer are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different said staples; and   a spreader configured to be disposed intermediate said first retainer plate and said second retainer plate and configured to move relative to said retainer between a first position and a second position, said spreader comprising a second cam configured to engage said first cam, and wherein movement of said spreader from said first position to said second position causes relative movement between said first cam and said second cam and causes said first retainer plate and said second retainer plate to pivot away from each other.   
     
     
         16 . A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:
 a grip;   a first surface;   a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;   at least one tissue thickness compensator; and   a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be attachable to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler.   
     
     
         17 . The retainer assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said first surface comprises engagement features configured to couple to respective engagement features on a first tissue thickness compensator. 
     
     
         18 . The retainer assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said second surface comprises engagement features configured to couple to respective engagement features on a second tissue thickness compensator. 
     
     
         19 . The retainer assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of clips is a first plurality of clips, said retainer assembly further comprising a second plurality of clips extending from said first surface, wherein said second plurality of clips are configured to releasably engage a said tissue thickness compensator, and wherein said second plurality of clips are configured to disengage from said tissue thickness compensator after said tissue thickness compensator attaches to an anvil of the surgical stapler. 
     
     
         20 . The retainer assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface through which first and second tissue thickness compensators may be connected. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)