Tissue thickness compensator comprising fibers to produce a resilient load

摘要

A nonwoven compensator for an end effector of a surgical instrument can comprise a plurality of spring fibers dispersed throughout the nonwoven compensator. The nonwoven compensator can be positioned in the end effector such as adjacent to a deck surface of a fastener cartridge that is positioned in the end effector. When a fastener from the fastener cartridge is moved from an initial position to a fired position, the fastener can be configured to engage the nonwoven compensator. The fastener can compress a portion of the nonwoven compensator in a staple entrapment area defined by the fired staple. The spring fibers in the nonwoven compensator can comprise a resilient material and can be deformed when the fastener compresses a portion of the nonwoven compensator. Further, the nonwoven compensator can comprise non-spring fibers, a haemostatic material, and/or a homogenous absorbable polymer matrix.

主权项

1. A fastener cartridge assembly for a surgical instrument, the fastener cartridge assembly comprising:
a support portion comprising a fastener cavity; a nonwoven compensator positioned relative to said support portion, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of nonwoven fibers, wherein said nonwoven compensator comprises a plurality of spring fibers, and wherein said plurality of spring fibers are dispersed throughout said plurality of nonwoven fibers; and a fastener moveable between an initial position and a fired position, wherein said fastener is at least partially positioned in said fastener cavity when said fastener is in said initial position, and wherein said fastener is configured to compress said nonwoven compensator when said fastener is moved between said initial position and said fired position.