A compressible adjunct for use with a surgical instrument including a staple cartridge includes a biocompatible layer and a plurality of biocompatible looping members. The biocompatible looping members protrude from the biocompatible layer. Each biocompatible looping member includes a first end portion attached to the biocompatible layer, a second end portion attached to the biocompatible layer, and an intermediate curved portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the intermediate curved portion is further away from the biocompatible layer than the first end portion and the second end portion.

A method of making a foamed article, for example a foamed component for an article or footwear, comprises depositing an unfoamed, thermoplastic polymer onto a support surface in a three-dimensional printing process to form an unfoamed article; heating the article to soften the article and infusing the softened article with at least one inert gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure that is sufficient to cause the at least one inert gas to permeate into the softened article; and reducing the pressure to second pressure below the first pressure while the article is softened to at least partially foam the article, wherein a surface of a partial mold limits foam expansion in at least one direction but less than all directions. The article or a part of the article may be made by printing a thermoplastic polymeric material with a three-dimensional printer in a structure of interconnected, unfoamed, thermoplastic polymeric members spaced to define openings between the thermoplastic polymeric members.

A compressible adjunct is used with a surgical instrument including a staple cartridge deck. The compressible adjunct includes a first biocompatible material, a second biocompatible material with a lower melting temperature than the first biocompatible material, and a body including a face positionable against a length of the staple cartridge deck. The face includes a plurality of attachment regions spaced apart from one another, wherein the plurality of attachment regions include the second biocompatible material, wherein the face is selectively attachable to the staple cartridge deck at said plurality of attachment regions, and a plurality of non-attachment regions extending between the plurality of attachment regions, wherein the second biocompatible material is selectively disposed outside said non-attachment regions.

A process for making a three dimensional foam article of non-uniform shape employs a two-stage nitrogen autoclave process and a pre-form which has a non-uniform cross-section in at least one dimension.

A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed comprising, one, a plurality of staples removably stored within a surgical staple cartridge and, two, an implantable adjunct. The implantable adjunct is configured to be progressively released from the surgical staple cartridge during a firing progression of a firing assembly configured to travel through the surgical staple cartridge.

A low temperature process which comprises several steps to integrate polymeric foams with at least one polymeric body in order to obtain a final body with improved properties is provided; the process being performed at a low temperature in order to avoid deformations in the polymeric body which compromise the functionality and other properties of the final body. The process comprises the steps of selecting the materials involved to guarantee the adhesion between them, the processability, their use and/or recycling, among other properties; impregnating the polymeric material to be foamed with a gas; generating the foam; and integrating the foam with the at least one polymeric body.

A compressible adjunct is used with a surgical instrument. The compressible adjunct includes a hollow fibrous construct and a core fibrous construct housed within the hollow fibrous construct, wherein the hollow fibrous construct comprises at least one biocompatible material that has experienced at least one transition from a more ordered phase to a less ordered phase in response to heating the hollow fibrous construct to a predetermined temperature.

Disclosed, among other things, are ways to manufacture reduced density thermoplastics using rapid solid-state foaming and machines useful for the saturation of plastic. In one embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce layered structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In another embodiment, a foaming process may produce deep draw structures in reduced density plastics with or without integral skins. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may utilize additives, blends, or fillers, for example. In yet another embodiment, a foaming process may involve saturating a semi-crystalline polymer such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) with high levels of gas, and then heating, which may produce a reduced density plastic having high levels of crystallinity.

Polymer foam and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. In the present disclosure, the method sequentially comprises the following steps: providing a polymer body; performing a pressure-induced flow (PIF) process on the polymer body at a first predetermined temperature and a first predetermined pressure for a pressure holding time, to obtain a polymer sheet; and performing a foaming process on the polymer sheet by using a foaming agent at a second predetermined temperature and a second predetermined pressure for a saturation time, to obtain polymer foam.

A compressible adjunct is used with a surgical instrument including a staple cartridge deck. The compressible adjunct includes a first biocompatible material, a second biocompatible material with a lower melting temperature than the first biocompatible material, and a body including a face positionable against a length of the staple cartridge deck. The face includes a plurality of attachment regions spaced apart from one another, wherein the plurality of attachment regions include the second biocompatible material, wherein the face is selectively attachable to the staple cartridge deck at said plurality of attachment regions, and a plurality of non-attachment regions extending between the plurality of attachment regions, wherein the second biocompatible material is selectively disposed outside said non-attachment regions.