Staple cartridge assembly including staple guides

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a cartridge body comprising a proximal cartridge end, a distal cartridge end, a deck, and a staple cavity. The staple cavity comprises a proximal cavity end, a distal cavity end, a proximal guide extending above and below the deck, a distal guide extending above and below the deck, and a connecting slot extending between the proximal cavity end and the distal cavity end. The proximal guide and the distal guide extend laterally with respect to the connecting slot. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a staple removably stored in the staple cavity. The staple comprises a proximal leg positioned within the proximal guide, a distal leg positioned within the distal guide, and a base extending between the proximal leg and the distal leg. The base is positioned in the connecting slot.

Surgical staples comprising features for improved fastening of tissue

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument.

Staple cartridge assembly without a bottom cover

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge is insertable into and removable from a jaw of surgical stapling instrument. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body including staple cavities and staples removably stored in the staple cavities. Each of the staple cavities includes a bottom opening and a top opening. The staples include features configured to inhibit the staples from falling out of the bottom openings of the staple cavities. The staple cartridge further comprises a firing member configured to eject the staples from the staple cavities through the top openings of the staple cavities. The firing member further comprises one or more features configured to inhibit the firing member from falling out of the bottom of the cartridge body. In various instances, as a result, a cover extending around the bottom of the cartridge body may not be required.

Medicant eluting adjuncts and methods of using medicant eluting adjuncts

Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performing surgical procedures. In general, one or more adjuncts can be used in conjunction with surgical instruments. The adjunct(s) can have medicant(s) thereon and/or therein. The medicant(s) can vary depending on the desired effect of the medicant(s) on surrounding tissue. As a non-limiting example, medicant(s) can be provided to influence hemostasis, inflammation, macrophages, and/or fibroblasts. When used in conjunction with a surgical stapler, the adjunct(s) can be disposed between and/or on jaws of the stapler, incorporated into a staple cartridge disposed in the jaws, or otherwise placed in proximity to the staples. When staples are deployed, the adjunct(s) can remain at the treatment site with the staples.

Surgical stapling configurations for curved and circular stapling instruments

Circular and curved surgical stapling instruments are disclosed comprising a circular and curved stapling configurations. A circular staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples arranged in an inner row, an intermediate row, and an outer row. Staples in certain rows can vary in crown width to overlap gaps defined between staples in certain other rows which provide a stretch zone.

Staple cartridge assembly including features for controlling the rotation of staples when being ejected therefrom

A staple cartridge is disclosed which comprises a cartridge body, staples cavities defined in the cartridge body, and staples removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge comprises features for properly aligning and preventing the misalignment of the staples within the staple cavities.

Staples comprising a cover

A staple cartridge assembly including staples is disclosed herein. The staples comprise features which improve the biocompatibility and/or bioabsorption of the staples. The staples are comprised of a magnesium alloy, for example. The magnesium alloy can also include zinc. In certain instances, a bioabsorbable polymer is coated on part of, but not all of, the staple. Portions of the staple that are not coated by the bioabsorbable polymer will be absorbed at a first rate while portions of the staple that are coated by the bioabsorbable polymer will be absorbed at a slower rate. In various instances, the tips of the magnesium staples are coated with magnesium nitride and/or any other suitable material which can increase the hardness of the staples. In certain instances, the staples are coated in silver. In some instances, the staples include one or more apertures defined therein.

Staples configured to support an implantable adjunct

A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises staples including a base, staple legs extending from the base, and a platform extending laterally from the base. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises an implantable layer. The platforms of the staples are configured to support the implantable layer when the staples are implanted into the tissue of a patient. Staples are also disclosed which included an implantable adjunct positioned over the platform of the staple. The implantable adjuncts can include one or more compressible pockets. One or more medicaments can be positioned in the compressible pockets.

Surgical staple strips for permitting varying staple properties and enabling easy cartridge loading

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a strip of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The strip of staples comprises a plurality of staples, a base strip, and a plurality of connector portions joining the staples to the base strip.

Staple cartridge assembly comprising staple alignment features on a firing member

A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and a firing member. The firing member is configured to directly engage the staples to eject the staples from the staple cavities. The firing member includes one or more channels and/or rails configured to orient the staples before, during, and/or after the staples contact an anvil positioned opposite the staple cartridge.