Tissue thickness compensator having improved visibility

US9198662B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Trevor J. Barton · Cincinnati, US
• Michael J. Vendely · Lebanon, US
• Stephen M. Torain · Cincinnati, US
• John V. Hunt · Cincinnati, US
• Geoffrey C. Hueil · Cincinnati, US
• Jacqueline A. Anim · Springboro, US
• Pamela M. Attenweiler · Loveland, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• Richard L. Leimbach · Cincinnati, US
• Donna L. Korvick · Maineville, US
• Joshua R. Uth · Mason, US
• Samardh Onukuri · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 2012
• Grant date: Dec 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator includes a visualization indicator.