Tissue thickness compensator comprising a reservoir

A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are at least partially positioned in said staple cavities, and wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position;
• a compressible tissue thickness compensator, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said tissue thickness compensator when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions;
• and
• a plurality of medicament capsules positioned within said tissue thickness compensator, wherein each said medicament capsule comprises a shell, a cavity defined in said shell, and a medicament positioned in said cavity, wherein said shell comprises a through-hole extending into said cavity, and wherein said medicament can flow out of said medicament capsule through said through-hole.

A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a first row of staple cavities;
• and
• a second row of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are at least partially positioned in said staple cavities, and wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position;
• a compressible tissue thickness compensator, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said tissue thickness compensator when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions;
• and
• a medicament capsule positioned intermediate said first row of staple cavities and said second row of staple cavities, wherein said staple cavities and said staples are configured and arranged such that said staples do not puncture said medicament capsule when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions, wherein said medicament capsule comprises a shell at least partially comprised of a bioabsorbable material, wherein said shell defines an enclosed void, and wherein said medicament capsule further comprises a medicament positioned within said shell;
• wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprises a non-woven material.

A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a first row of staple cavities;
• and
• a second row of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are at least partially positioned in said staple cavities, and wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position;
• a compressible tissue thickness compensator, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said tissue thickness compensator when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions;
• and
• a medicament capsule positioned intermediate said first row of staple cavities and said second row of staple cavities, wherein said staple cavities and said staples are configured and arranged such that said staples do not puncture said medicament capsule when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions, wherein said medicament capsule comprises a shell at least partially comprised of a bioabsorbable material, wherein said shell defines an enclosed void, and wherein said medicament capsule further comprises a medicament positioned within said shell;
• wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprises a woven material.

A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a first row of staple cavities;
• and
• a second row of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are at least partially positioned in said staple cavities, and wherein each said staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position;
• a compressible tissue thickness compensator, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture said tissue thickness compensator when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions;
• and
• a medicament capsule positioned intermediate said first row of staple cavities and said second row of staple cavities, wherein said staple cavities and said staples are configured and arranged such that said staples do not puncture said medicament capsule when said staples are moved between their unfired positions and their fired positions, wherein said medicament capsule comprises a shell at least partially comprised of a bioabsorbable material, wherein said shell defines an enclosed void, and wherein said medicament capsule further comprises a medicament positioned within said shell;
• wherein said compressible tissue thickness compensator comprises a felt material.

A staple cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of cavities;
• staples removably positioned within some of said cavities;
• piercing members removably positioned within some of said cavities, wherein each said piercing member is movable between a unfired position and a fired position when said piercing members are ejected from said cavities;
• and
• a compressible compensator positioned above said deck, wherein said compensator comprises at least one capsule positioned over said piercing members, and wherein said piercing members are configured to pierce said at least one capsule when said piercing members are moved into their fired positions.