MULTIPLE THICKNESS IMPLANTABLE LAYERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES.

摘要

A staple cartridge assembly (2000) includes a stepped staple cartridge deck (2014) and an implantable layer (2020), such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, positioned thereon. The layer can include a first portion (2020a) positioned over a first deck surface (2018a) of the multi-step staple cartridge and a second portion (2020b) positioned over a second deck surface (2018b) of the multi-step staple cartridge. The first portion includes a first tissue-contacting surface (2034a) and the second portion includes a second tissue-contacting surface (2034b), wherein the first tissue-contacting surface is vertically offset from the second tissue-contacting surface.