A staple cartridge assembly includes, one, a plurality of staples movable between unfired positions and fired positions and, two, a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, wherein the staples are configured to at least partially capture the layer when the staples are moved between the unfired positions and the fired positions. The layer can include a cushioning member at least partially extending around a peripheral portion of the tissue thickness compensator. The layer can include features which create a flexible transition between the tissue supported by the layer and the staples and the unsupported tissue.

An augmentation method is provided, wherein a thermoplastic augmentation element is subject to mechanical energy impact and mechanical pressure by a tool so that augmentation material of the augmentation element is liquefied and pressed into hard tissue to augment the hard tissue, wherein in at least one axial depth, the augmentation element is segmented as a function of the circumferential angle so that at this axial depth the circumferential wall of the initial opening in first regions is in contact with the augmentation element and in second regions is not in contact with the augmentation element.

Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for treating a cavity in a human body, the apparatus including a delivery tube. A barrier device has a collapsed and an expanded configuration, the barrier device moving from the collapsed to the expanded configuration upon being deployed from the delivery tube. A pushing element, slidably disposed within a lumen of the delivery tube, deploys the barrier device from the delivery tube by pushing the barrier device. One or more barrier-deployment elements are coupled to the barrier device and to the pushing element, the barrier-deployment elements being configured to conformingly contact the barrier device with tissue surrounding the cavity. The barrier device is configured to isolate the cavity from surrounding body fluid that is between the barrier device and the pushing element, following deployment of the barrier device from the delivery tube. Other applications are also described.

A surgical instrument is provided including a handle portion and a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes a grasper disposed at a distal end of the body portion, the grasper including an ultraviolet (UV) light mechanism for performing UV tacking of an implant. The implant is positioned between the first and second jaw members of the grasper: (i) to be placed at a surgical site and (ii) to be exposed by a UV light emitted from the UV light mechanism such that the UV tacking of the implant to the surgical site is performed.

Exemplary methods and systems can be provided for resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus. Compressive and/or tensile forces can then be applied to the treated region of skin as the damage heals to facilitate hole closure, and provide enhanced and/or directional shrinkage of the treated skin area.

A staple cartridge assembly includes a stepped staple cartridge deck and an implantable layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, positioned thereon. The layer can include a first portion positioned over a first deck surface of the multi-step staple cartridge and a second portion positioned over a second deck surface of the multi-step staple cartridge. The first portion includes a first tissue-contacting surface and the second portion includes a second tissue-contacting surface, wherein the first tissue-contacting surface is vertically offset from the second tissue-contacting surface.

A method of using a suction device to remove an object from a subject's body includes extending a suction device into the body through a lumen of a medical device and expanding the suction head from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration within the body. The suction head may be provided at a distal end of an elongate conduit. The method may also include applying suction to move the object into the expanded suction head, and removing the suction device with the object from the body.

A staple cartridge assembly includes, one, a plurality of staples movable between unfired positions and fired positions and, two, a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, wherein the staples are configured to at least partially capture the layer when the staples are moved between the unfired positions and the fired positions. The layer can include a cushioning member at least partially extending around a peripheral portion of the tissue thickness compensator. The layer can include features which create a flexible transition between the tissue supported by the layer and the staples and the unsupported tissue.

A device for occluding a perforation in a blood vessel includes an expandable member. The expandable member includes a central expandable balloon disposed between a proximal and a distal balloon, wherein the proximal and distal balloons each contain first and second compositions, respectively. The proximal, central and distal balloons have respective stiffnesses, and the central balloon has a third stiffness that is less than the first and second stiffnesses. Upon expansion, the central balloon causes the proximal balloon and the distal balloon to substantially simultaneously release the first and second compositions, thereby allowing the first composition and the second composition to combine in-situ and form, therein, a biocompatible foam to occlude a perforation within the vasculature.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical system includes a patch sized and shaped to seal a retinal break of an eye by preventing fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space when adhered to the retina surrounding the retinal break; and a delivery device including a cannula configured to maintain the patch in a furled state for passage through an incision in the eye, the delivery device actuatable to deploy the patch within a vitreous chamber of the eye. In another exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical method includes damaging tissue around a retinal break; delivering, into the vitreous chamber, a patch sized and shaped to seal the retinal break; positioning the patch on the retina surrounding the retinal break; and affixing the patch to the retina such that the patch prevents fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space.