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. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.

A method is disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining a first staple cartridge and obtaining a second staple cartridge, wherein the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge comprise the same length and the same width. The method can further comprise inserting the first staple cartridge into a channel comprising a keyed profile, wherein complete insertion of the first staple cartridge into the channel is prevented by the keyed profile. Additionally, the method can comprise inserting the second staple cartridge into the channel, wherein complete insertion of the second staple cartridge into the channel is permitted by the keyed profile.

In various embodiments, a layer of material can comprise a body, a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion can be releasably secured to a staple cartridge of a surgical end effector, and the distal end portion can be releasably secured to an anvil of the surgical end effector. The layer of material can comprise a tissue thickness compensator.

A curved cartridge assembly of a surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge, an alignment pin received in the staple cartridge and configured to engage an opening in an anvil assembly, and a shipping cap configured to detachably couple to the staple cartridge. The shipping cap has is engaged with the distal end portion of the alignment pin to resist translation of the alignment pin. With the cartridge assembly loaded into the surgical stapler, upon releasing the shipping cap from the staple cartridge the alignment pin translates into engagement with the opening in the anvil assembly.

A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.

A surgical staple comprising a substrate and one or more coatings which slows 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.

Surgical instruments are disclosed comprising a firing assembly including a fuse having a plurality of operating states.

A staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises an external layer and tubular elements. The tubular elements are interconnected and positioned within the external layer. The tubular elements comprise apertures defined therein and the tubular elements are configured to collapse as pressure is applied to the tissue thickness compensator by tissue during the firing motion. The apertures enable fluids from the tissue to permeate the tissue thickness compensator.

A surgical buttress loading assembly includes a surgical buttress applicator, an anvil buttress, and a cartridge buttress. The surgical buttress applicator includes an anvil buttress loading unit defining a buttress cavity and a strap cavity therein, and a cartridge buttress loading unit defining a buttress cavity and a strap cavity therein. The anvil buttress includes a tubular body disposed within the buttress cavity of the anvil buttress loading unit and a strap extending from the tubular body and positioned within the strap cavity of the anvil buttress loading unit. The cartridge buttress includes a tubular body disposed within the buttress cavity of the cartridge buttress loading unit and a strap extending from the tubular body and positioned within the strap cavity of the cartridge buttress loading unit.

A surgical instrument comprising a firing drive and a bailout retraction system is disclosed.