Adjunct materials and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce a staple line are provided. In general, an adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue and can prevent stapled tissue from tearing. In some embodiments, a surgical stapler can include a jaw having an adjunct material associated with the jaw. The adjunct material can be attached to tissue via staples deployed by the stapler. In some embodiments, an adjunct material can be a woven material having a single layer or multiple layers, and each layer can have different mechanical properties. In other embodiments, an adjunct material can have a single layer or multiple layers of nonwoven material, such as suture compressed into a three dimensional structure.

A buttress assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes a buttress material and a loading assembly. The buttress material includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion defines proximal bores and a proximal slot. The distal portion defines distal bores and a distal slot. The loading assembly includes proximal and distal wings and proximal and distal cups. Each of the proximal wings includes a proximal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the proximal bores of the buttress material. Each of the distal wings includes a distal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the distal bores of the buttress material. When the proximal pegs are received in the proximal bores, the proximal cup is in registration with the proximal slot, and when the distal pegs are received in the distal bores, the distal cup is in registration with the distal slot.

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a tool assembly, at least one surgical buttress, and a resilient, porous material. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly pivotably coupled to the cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a first tissue facing surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a second tissue facing surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The at least one surgical buttress is releasably disposed on at least one of the first and second tissue facing surfaces. The resilient, porous material is releasably disposable between the first and second tissue facing surfaces and in contact with the at least one surgical buttress. The resilient, porous material is configured to expel a liquid therefrom upon compression thereof by an approximation of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.

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.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle, a tool assembly, and a staple cartridge. The handle includes an actuation trigger. The tool assembly is operatively coupled to the handle. In addition, the tool assembly includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The staple cartridge is releasably supported on the first jaw member. The staple cartridge includes first and second buttress materials and a spring member extending from the staple cartridge. The spring member is configured to support the second buttress material away from the first buttress material.

A method of closing a wound includes providing a first bridging portion comprising a first insert having at least one first eyelet, and a first upper layer of material at least partially disposed over the first insert, and a first lower layer of material disposed below the first insert, the first lower layer of material having an adhesive disposed on a first lower surface, wherein the first insert, the first upper layer and the first lower layer form three zones of different elasticity and stiffness than others of the zones.

A stapling assembly comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a body portion comprising a porous material and a plurality of cavities defined in the body portion, wherein the cavities are aligned with forming surfaces of an anvil such that fasteners of a fastener cartridge are configured to at least one of the cavities when the fasteners are ejected from the fastener cartridge or capture the cavities and compress the cavities within the tissue thickness compensator when the fasteners are ejected from the fastener cartridge and formed by forming surfaces of the anvil. The stapling assembly further comprises at least one medicament positioned within each cavity prior to firing the stapler, wherein the medicament is different than the porous material.

A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.

Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector that comprises a lower jaw and an upper jaw that are supported for movable travel toward and away from each other. The instrument may further include a firing member that is operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector. The instrument may also include a first jaw closure system that operably interfaces with the lower jaw and is configured to selectively move the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. A second jaw closure system operably interfaces with the upper jaw and is configured to selectively move the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw. A firing system operably interfaces with the firing member and is configured to apply firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the end effector.