Retainer assembly including a tissue thickness compensator

A staple cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
• a first tissue thickness compensator;
• a retainer coupled to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator is positioned intermediate said cartridge body and said retainer;
• and
• a second tissue thickness compensator attached to at least one of said retainer and said first tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises an anvil attachment portion, wherein said retainer is positioned intermediate said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said retainer is configured to be removed from between said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, and wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different staples;
• wherein said second tissue thickness compensator defines an aperture, and wherein said retainer comprises a protrusion extending through said aperture, and wherein said protrusion is configured to mate with a channel in the anvil.

A staple cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
• a first tissue thickness compensator;
• a retainer coupled to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator is positioned intermediate said cartridge body and said retainer;
• and
• a second tissue thickness compensator attached to at least one of said retainer and said first tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises an anvil attachment portion, wherein said retainer is positioned intermediate said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said retainer is configured to be removed from between said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, and wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different staples;
• wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to conform to at least a portion of the anvil, wherein said plurality of protrusions are configured to move relative to the anvil and align said second tissue thickness compensator with the anvil.

A staple cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said staple cartridge assembly, said staple cartridge assembly comprising:

• a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;
• a plurality of staples positioned within said staple cavities;
• a first tissue thickness compensator;
• a retainer coupled to said cartridge body, wherein said first tissue thickness compensator is positioned intermediate said cartridge body and said retainer;
• a second tissue thickness compensator attached to at least one of said retainer and said first tissue thickness compensator, wherein said second tissue thickness compensator comprises an anvil attachment portion, wherein said retainer is positioned intermediate said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said retainer is configured to be removed from between said first tissue thickness compensator and said second tissue thickness compensator, and wherein said first and second tissue thickness compensators are configured to be captured within said staples and assume different compressed heights within different staples;
• and
• a sock coupled to said second tissue thickness compensator, wherein said sock is configured to slide relative to and over the anvil.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• and
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be releasably attached to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler, wherein said clips are configured to permit said retainer assembly to be removed from the surgical stapler after said at least one tissue thickness compensator has been delivered to the surgical stapler, and wherein said first surface comprises engagement features configured to couple to respective engagement features on a first tissue thickness compensator.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• and
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be releasably attached to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler, wherein said clips are configured to permit said retainer assembly to be removed from the surgical stapler after said at least one tissue thickness compensator has been delivered to the surgical stapler, and wherein said second surface comprises engagement features configured to couple to respective engagement features on a second tissue thickness compensator.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• and
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be releasably attached to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler, wherein said clips are configured to permit said retainer assembly to be removed from the surgical stapler after said at least one tissue thickness compensator has been delivered to the surgical stapler, wherein said plurality of clips is a first plurality of clips, said retainer assembly further comprising a second plurality of clips extending from said first surface, wherein said second plurality of clips are configured to releasably engage a said tissue thickness compensator, and wherein said second plurality of clips are configured to disengage from said tissue thickness compensator after said tissue thickness compensator attaches to an anvil of the surgical stapler.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be releasably attached to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler, and wherein said clips are configured to permit said retainer assembly to be removed from the surgical stapler after said at least one tissue thickness compensator has been delivered to the surgical stapler;
• and
• an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface through which first and second tissue thickness compensators may be connected.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be attachable to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler;
• and
• an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface through which first and second tissue thickness compensators may be connected, wherein said aperture comprises a cutting edge configured to disconnect said first and second tissue thickness compensators when said retainer is removed from said first and second tissue thickness compensators.

A retainer assembly for applying at least one tissue thickness compensator to a surgical stapler, wherein the surgical stapler includes an anvil configured for a facing relationship with said retainer assembly, said retainer assembly comprising:

• a grip;
• a first surface;
• a second surface positioned opposite said first surface;
• at least one tissue thickness compensator;
• a plurality of clips extending from said second surface, wherein said clips are configured to be attachable to at least one of a staple cartridge and a staple cartridge channel of a surgical stapler;
• and
• a plurality of protrusions extending from said first surface, wherein said protrusions are configured to conform to at least a portion of the anvil of the surgical stapler, and wherein said protrusions are configured to move relative to the anvil and to align said at least one tissue thickness compensator with the anvil.