A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.

A retainer for use with a staple cartridge that is configured for use with a surgical stapling device is disclosed. The retainer comprises a retainer body that is configured to be attached to the staple cartridge to form a cartridge assembly. An authentication key is movably supported on the retainer between an actuation position wherein the actuation key can defeat a lockout of the surgical stapling device when the cartridge assembly is seated in the surgical stapling device and a retracted position when the retainer is detached from the staple cartridge.

A staple cartridge comprising a deformable authentication key that is movable between a first state and a second state is disclosed. The authentication key is configured to operably engage a lockout of a surgical stapling device when the staple cartridge is inserted into the surgical stapling device in an initial insertion position. When the cartridge is seated in a final position within the device, the authentication key is deformed from the first state to the second state and moves the lockout from a locked position to an unlocked position.

A surgical staple comprising a substrate and one or more coatings which delay the bioabsorption of the substrate. The coating can be selected so as to affect the environment surrounding the staple once the staple is implanted in the patient. The effect on the environment can cause the bioabsorption to occur within a desired time frame.

A staple cartridge assembly includes a cartridge body with a deck, a longitudinal slot defined in the deck, and staple cavities defined in the deck. The staple cartridge assembly includes staples removably stored in the staple cavities, wherein the staples are deployable from the staple cavities into tissue of a patient, and wherein the staples comprise substrates comprised of metal that degrades when exposed to a degradation source in the patient. The staple cartridge assembly includes an implantable adjunct, wherein the staples are configured to hold the implantable adjunct to the tissue, and wherein the implantable adjunct is configured to delay an initiation of the degradation of regions of the metal in contact with the implantable adjunct in the patient, and wherein the implantable adjunct is configured to modify a local environment surrounding the staples to control a degradation rate of the staples after the initial delay.

A staple cartridge comprising staples that are lubricated before they are loaded into the staple cartridge and after they have been loaded into the staple cartridge is disclosed.

Staple cartridges including bioabsorbable staples are disclosed. The staples are configured such that they are bioabsorbable within a desired time frame.