Staple cartridge comprising a releasable adjunct material

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises cartridge body and a layer. The layer is implantable against tissue by staples deployed from the cartridge body and deformed by an anvil. The cartridge and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the cartridge and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the cartridge body. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the anvil and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the anvil and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the anvil. In certain instances, the layer can be positioned against the anvil, but releasably attached to the cartridge. The layer can comprise buttress material and/or a tissue thickness compensator, for example.

1 . A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and 
 a plurality of staple cavities; 
   a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   a firing member movable between a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities;   a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and   a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainer and lift said layer retainer relative to said deck.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said layer retainer comprises a clip movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said deck comprises a clip slot, and wherein a portion of said layer is wedged between said clip and said clip slot when said clip is in said retaining position. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said layer retainer comprises a retainer lip, wherein said deck comprises a deck lip, and wherein said retainer lip and said deck lip releasably hold said layer therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said layer retainer is positioned at said distal end of said cartridge body and is configured to releasably hold said distal portion against said deck, and wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a portion of the firing member therein, wherein said layer comprises a series of tabs aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said tabs to progressively release said tabs from said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; and 
 a plurality of staple cavities; 
   a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   a plurality of staple drivers comprising a proximal driver and a distal driver;   a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to lift said staple drivers toward said deck to eject said staples from said staple cavities;   a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and   a layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said distal driver is configured to retract said layer retainer relative to said deck.   
     
     
         7 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said layer retainer comprises a pin movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said layer comprises a pin aperture, wherein said pin is positioned in said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said retaining position, and wherein said pin is disengaged from said pin aperture when the layer retainer is in said released position. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said layer retainer is positioned at said distal end of said cartridge body and is configured to releasably hold said distal portion relative to said deck, and wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive a portion of the firing member therein, wherein said layer comprises a series of tabs aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said tabs to progressively release said tabs from said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical stapling apparatus for stapling tissue, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end; 
 a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface; 
 a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a longitudinal slot; 
   a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;   a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position to eject said staples from said staple cavities, wherein a portion of said firing member is positioned within said longitudinal slot;   a layer positioned above said deck, wherein said staples are configured to implant said layer against the tissue when said staples are ejected from said staple cavities; and   a longitudinal series of layer retainers configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said layer retainers are aligned with and releasably wedged within said longitudinal slot, and wherein said firing member is configured to engage said layer retainers to progressively release said layer retainers from said longitudinal slot.   
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said longitudinal slot comprises a first longitudinal sidewall and a second longitudinal sidewall, and wherein each said layer retainer comprises a tab releasably wedged between said first sidewall and said second sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said layer comprises an implantable body, and wherein said layer retainers are integrally formed with said implantable body. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of staple drivers configured to lift said staples toward said deck, wherein said staple drivers comprise a proximal staple driver and a distal staple driver; and   a distal layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said distal driver is configured to retract said distal layer retainer relative to said deck.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said distal layer retainer comprises a pin movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said layer comprises a pin aperture, wherein said pin is positioned in said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said retaining position, and wherein said pin is disengaged from said pin aperture when said layer retainer is in said released position. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said layer comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein said proximal portion is wedged between said firing member and said cartridge body when said firing member is in said proximal position, and wherein said proximal portion is released when said firing member is moved toward said distal position. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a distal layer retainer configured to releasably hold said layer to said deck, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said distal layer retainer and lift said distal layer retainer relative to said deck. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said distal layer retainer comprises a clip movable between a retaining position and a released position, wherein said deck comprises a clip slot, and wherein a portion of said layer is wedged between said clip and said clip slot when said clip is in said retaining position. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said layer retainer comprises a retainer lip, wherein said deck comprises a deck lip, and wherein said retainer lip and said deck lip releasably hold said layer therebetween. 
     
     
         19 .- 30 . (canceled)