A fastener cartridge assembly (20200) can comprise a cartridge body, a tissue thickness compensator (20220) releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, and a fastener (20230) removably positioned in a staple cavity of the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator (20220) can comprise a first clearance aperture (20224a) extending along a first predefined trajectory and a second clearance aperture (20224b) extending along a second predefined trajectory. The fastener can comprise a first leg (20232a) aligned with the first clearance aperture and moveable along the first predefined trajectory, a second leg (20232b) aligned with the second clearance aperture and moveable along the second predefined trajectory. The first and second predefined trajectories can be parallel.
