Staple cartridge comprising a releasable cover

A staple cartridge for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein the end effector includes a staple cartridge channel configured to receive said staple cartridge, said staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
• a layer arranged relative to said cartridge body;
• and
• a retainer, wherein said layer is positioned intermediate said cartridge body and said retainer, and wherein said retainer comprises releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said retainer to said cartridge body such that said retainer releases from said cartridge body when said staple cartridge is received by the staple cartridge channel of the end effector.

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of staple cavities defined in said deck;
• a plurality of staples at least partially positioned within said cartridge body;
• a layer positioned over said deck, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture a portion of said layer when said staples are moved between an unfired position and a fired position;
• and
• a cover extending over at least a portion of said layer, wherein said cover is removably locked to said cartridge body, wherein said cover comprises installation unlocking means for unlocking said cover when said staple cartridge is installed in the surgical stapler, whereby said cover can then be removed from said cartridge body.

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of staple cavities defined in said deck;
• a plurality of staples at least partially positioned within said cartridge body;
• a layer positioned over said deck, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture a portion of said layer therein when said staples are moved between an unfired position and a fired position;
• and
• a cover removably locked to said cartridge body, wherein said cover comprises:
• a first lateral portion at least partially covering a first side of said layer;
• a first lock extending from said first lateral portion;
• a second lateral portion at least partially covering a second side of said layer;
• and
• a second lock extending from said second lateral portion, wherein said first lock and said second lock are configured to be squeezed inwardly by the surgical stapler to unlock said cover from said cartridge body when said staple cartridge is inserted into the surgical stapler.

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a deck;
• a plurality of staple cavities defined in said deck;
• and
• a datum surface;
• a plurality of staples at least partially positioned within said cartridge body;
• a layer positioned over said deck, wherein said staples are configured to at least partially capture a portion of said layer when said staples are moved between an unfired position and a fired position;
• and
• a cover extending over at least a portion of said layer, wherein said cover is removably locked to said cartridge body by an installation lock, wherein said installation lock is positioned a predetermined distance from said datum surface, and wherein said installation lock is configured to engage a key defined on the surgical stapler to unlock said cover from said cartridge body when said staple cartridge is properly positioned within the surgical stapler.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge channel configured to receive said staple cartridge assembly, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

• a staple cartridge;
• a layer;
• and
• a retainer, wherein said layer is positioned between said retainer and said staple cartridge, wherein said retainer comprises at least one lock configured to releasably lock said retainer to said staple cartridge, and wherein said at least one lock is further configured to be displaced when said staple cartridge assembly is received by the staple cartridge channel such that said retainer unlocks from said staple cartridge.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler, said staple cartridge comprising:

• a staple cartridge comprising a datum surface;
• a layer;
• and
• a retainer covering at least a portion of said layer, wherein said retainer is removably locked to said staple cartridge by an installation lock, wherein said installation lock is positioned a predetermined distance from said datum surface, and wherein said installation lock is configured to engage a key defined on the surgical stapler when said staple cartridge is properly positioned within the surgical stapler such that said retainer unlocks from said staple cartridge.