Staple cartridges for forming staples having differing formed staple heights

[0001] The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from commonly-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/038,939 entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES FOR FORMING STAPLES HAVING DIFFERING FORMED STAPLE HEIGHTS, filed Feb. 28, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,630, which is a continuation-in-part application of commonly-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/216,562 entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGES FOR FORMING STAPLES HAVING DIFFERING FORMED STAPLE HEIGHTS, filed on Aug. 31, 2005; now U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,746, commonly-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/541,374 entitled SURGICAL STAPLES HAVING DISSOLVABLE, BIOABSORBABLE OR BIOFRAGMENTABLE PORTIONS AND STAPLING INSTRUMENTS FOR DEPLOYING THE SAME, filed on Sep. 29, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,976; and commonly-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/824,251 entitled SURGICAL STAPLE HAVING A SLIDABLE CROWN, filed on Jun. 29, 2007, now U.S. Publication No. 2009/0005807, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] The present invention relates in general to stapling instruments that are capable of applying lines of staples and, more particularly, to improvements relating to staple cartridges for use with surgical stapling instruments that are capable of applying lines of staples having differing formed staple heights to tissue while simultaneously cutting the tissue.

[0003] Surgical staplers have been used in the prior art to simultaneously make a longitudinal incision in tissue and apply lines of staples on opposing sides of the incision. Such instruments commonly include a pair of cooperating jaw members that, if the instrument is intended for endoscopic or laparoscopic applications, are capable of passing through a cannula passageway. One of the jaw members receives a staple cartridge having at least two laterally spaced rows of staples. The other jaw member defines an anvil having staple-forming pockets aligned with the rows of staples in the cartridge. The instrument includes a plurality of reciprocating wedges that, when driven distally, pass through openings in the staple cartridge and engage drivers supporting the staples to effect the firing of the staples toward the anvil.

[0004] An example of a surgical stapler suitable for endoscopic applications is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,818, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS, which issued on Feb. 21, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. In use, a clinician is able to close the jaw members of the stapler upon tissue to position the jaw members prior to firing. Once the clinician has determined that the jaw members are properly gripping tissue, the clinician can then fire the surgical stapler, thereby severing and stapling the tissue. The simultaneous severing and stapling avoids complications that may arise when performing such actions sequentially with different surgical tools that respectively only sever or staple.

[0005] Whenever a transection of tissue is across an area of varied tissue composition, it would be advantageous for the staples that are closest to the cut line to have one formed height that is less than the formed height of those staples that are farthest from the cut line. In practice, the rows of inside staples serve to provide a hemostatic barrier, while the outside rows of staples with larger formed heights provide a cinching effect where the tissue transitions from the tightly compressed hemostatic section to the non-compressed adjacent section. In other applications, it may be useful for the staples in a single line of staples to have differing formed heights. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,941,623 and 5,027,834 to Pruitt disclose surgical stapler and cartridge arrangements that employ staples that have different prong lengths to ultimately achieve lines of staples that have differing formed heights. Likewise, WO 2003/094747A1 discloses a surgical stapler and cartridge that has six rows of staples wherein the outer two rows of staples comprise staples that are larger than the staples employed in the inner two rows and middle rows of staples. Although the above-disclosed staples and staple cartridges may be suitable for their intended purpose, what is needed is an improvement over the foregoing.

[0006] In at least one form of the invention, a staple cartridge can be configured to deploy staples in rows, where the staples in a first row can be deformed to a different height than the staples in a second row. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge can include a first driver for deploying a staple in the first row a first distance and a second driver for deploying a staple in the second row a second distance, wherein the first distance can differ from the second distance. Owing to the different distances in which the staples can be deployed, the staples can be deformed to various heights such that the staples within the first row can apply different clamping forces to soft tissue captured therein as compared to the staples within the second row.

[0007] In at least one form of the invention, a staple cartridge can include other various features which can deform staples to different heights and/or create different clamping forces within the staples. In various embodiments, the staples in a first row of a staple cartridge can include a crown, a tissue-contacting surface on the crown, and a deformable member extending from the crown, where a first distance can be defined between the tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface of the crown. The staples in a second row of the staple cartridge can also include a crown, a tissue-contacting surface on the crown, and a deformable member, where a second distance can be defined between the tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface of the crown. In at least one such embodiment, the first distance can differ from the second distance such that the first staples can apply a first force to tissue captured therein and the second staples can apply a second force, where the first force can differ from the second force.

[0008] In at least one form of the invention, the crowns of various staples can include tissue-contacting surfaces which can comprise contact areas across which soft tissue can be supported by the crowns. In various embodiments, such tissue-contacting surfaces can reduce the clamping pressure applied by the staples. In at least one embodiment, staples which are deformed to shorter heights and/or apply a larger clamping force can include larger tissue-contacting surfaces as compared to the tissue-contacting surfaces of staples which are deformed to taller heights and/or apply a smaller clamping force so as to substantially equalize, or at least control, the pressures applied by the staples to soft tissue captured within the staples, for example. As a result, embodiments are envisioned in which the size of the tissue-contacting area and/or the anticipated deformed staple height can be selected to provide a larger and/or smaller clamping pressure to a particular area of the treated tissue.

[0106] Turning to the Drawings, wherein like numerals denote like components throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict one embodiment of a surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 that is capable of practicing the unique benefits of the present invention. As the present Detailed Description proceeds, the reader will appreciate, however, that the unique and novel aspects of the present invention may be advantageously employed in connection with a variety of other staplers and stapler instruments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection afforded to the various embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to use only with the specific type of surgical stapling and severing instruments described herein.

[0107] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 incorporates an end effector 12 having an actuator or E-beam firing mechanism (“firing bar”) 14 that advantageously controls the spacing of the end effector 12. In particular, an elongate channel 16 and a pivotally translatable anvil 18 are maintained at a spacing that assures effective stapling and severing. The problems are avoided associated with varying amounts of tissue being captured in the end effector 12.

[0108] It will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to a clinician gripping a handle of an instrument. Thus, the end effector 12 is distal with respect to the more proximal handle portion 20. It will be further appreciated that for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical” and “horizontal” are used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.

[0109] The surgical and stapling and severing instrument 10 includes a handle portion 20 that is connected to an implement portion 22, the latter further comprising a shaft 23 distally terminating in the end effector 12. The handle portion 20 includes a pistol grip 24 toward which a closure trigger 26 is pivotally drawn by the clinician to cause clamping, or closing, of the anvil 18 toward the elongate channel 16 of the end effector 12. A firing trigger 28 is farther outboard of the closure trigger 26 and is pivotally drawn by the clinician to cause the stapling and severing of clamped tissue in the end effector 12.

[0110] In practice, closure trigger 26 is actuated first. Once the clinician is satisfied with the positioning of the end effector 12, the clinician may draw back the closure trigger 26 to its fully closed, locked position proximate to the pistol grip 24. Then, the firing trigger 28 is actuated. The firing trigger 28 springedly returns when the clinician removes pressure. A release button 30 when depressed on the proximal end of the handle portion 20 releases any locked closure trigger 26.

[0111] A closure sleeve 32 encloses a frame 34, which in turn encloses a firing drive member 36 that is positioned by the firing trigger 28. The frame 34 connects the handle portion 20 to the end effector 12. With the closure sleeve 32 withdrawn proximally by the closure trigger 26 as depicted, the anvil 18 springedly opens, pivoting away from the elongate channel 16 and translating proximally with the closure sleeve 32. The elongate channel 16 receives a staple cartridge 37.

[0112] With particular reference to FIGS. 2-4, the firing bar 14 includes three vertically spaced pins that control the spacing of the end effector 12 during firing. In particular, an upper pin 38 is staged to enter an anvil pocket 40 near the pivot between the anvil 18 and elongate channel 16. When fired with the anvil 18 closed, the upper pin 38 advances distally within a longitudinal anvil slot 42 extending distally through anvil 18. Any minor upward deflection in the anvil 18 is overcome by a downward force imparted by the upper pin 38. Firing bar 14 also includes a lowermost pin, or firing bar cap, 44 that upwardly engages a channel slot 45 in the elongate channel 16, thereby cooperating with the upper pin 38 to draw the anvil 18 and the elongate channel 16 slightly closer together in the event of excess tissue clamped therebetween. The firing bar 14 advantageously includes a middle pin 46 that passes through a firing drive slot 47 formed in a lower surface of the cartridge 300 and an upward surface of the elongate channel 16, thereby driving the staples therein as described below. The middle pin 46, by sliding against the elongate channel 16, advantageously resists any tendency for the end effector 12 to be pinched shut at its distal end. To illustrate an advantage of the middle pin 46, FIG. 5 depicts an alternative end effector 12′ that lacks a middle pin on a firing bar 14′. In this depiction, the end effector 12′ is allowed to pinch shut at its distal end, which tends to impair desired staple formation.

[0113] Returning to FIGS. 2-4, a distally presented cutting edge 48 between the upper and middle pins 38, 46 on the firing bar 14 traverses through a proximally presented, vertical slot 49 in the cartridge 37 to sever clamped tissue. The affirmative positioning of the firing bar 14 with regard to the elongate channel 16 and anvil 18 assure that an effective cut is performed. The affirmative vertical spacing provided by the E-Beam firing bar 14 is suitable for the limited size available for endoscopic devices. Moreover, the E-Beam firing bar 14 enables fabrication of an anvil 15 with a camber imparting a vertical deflection at its distal end, similar to the position depicted in FIG. 5. This cambered anvil 15 advantageously assists in achieving the desired gap in the end effector 12 even with an anvil 15 having a reduced thickness, which may be more suited to the size limitations of an endoscopic device.

[0114] With reference to FIGS. 6-9, the handle portion 20 is comprised of first and second base sections 50 and 52, which are molded from a polymeric material such as a glass-filled polycarbonate. The first base section 50 is provided with a plurality of cylindrically-shaped pins 54. The second base section 52 includes a plurality of extending members 56, each having a hexagonal-shaped opening 58. The cylindrically-shaped pins 54 are received within the hexagonal-shaped openings 58 and are frictionally held therein for maintaining the first and second base sections 50 and 52 in assembly.

[0115] A rotating knob 60 has a bore 62 extending completely through it for engaging and rotating the implement portion 22 about its longitudinal axis. The rotating knob 60 includes an inwardly protruding boss 64 extending along at least a portion of the bore 62. The protruding boss 64 is received within a longitudinal slot 66 formed at a proximal portion of the closure sleeve 32 such that rotation of the rotating knob 60 effects rotation of the closure sleeve 32. It will be appreciated that the boss 64 further extends through frame 34 and into contact with a portion of the firing drive member 36 to effect their rotation as well. Thus, the end effector 12 (not shown in FIGS. 6-9) rotates with the rotating knob 60.

[0116] A proximal end 68 of the frame 34 passes proximally through the rotating knob 60 and is provided with a circumferential notch 70 that is engaged by opposing channel securement members 72 extending respectively from the base sections 50 and 52. Only the channel securement member 72 of the second base section 52 is shown. The channel securement members 72, extending from the base sections 50, 52 serve to secure the frame 34 to the handle portion 20 such that the frame 34 does not move longitudinally relative to the handle portion 20. The closure trigger 26 has a handle section 74, a gear segment section 76, and an intermediate section 78. A bore 80 extends through the intermediate section 78. A cylindrical support member 82 extending from the second base section 52 passes through the bore 80 for pivotably mounting the closure trigger 26 on the handle portion 20. A second cylindrical support member 83 extending from the second base section 52 passes through a bore 81 of firing trigger 28 for pivotally mounting on the handle portion 20. A hexagonal opening 84 is provided in the cylindrical support member 83 for receiving a securement pin (not shown) extending from the first base section 50.

[0117] A closure yoke 86 is housed within the handle portion 20 for reciprocating movement therein and serves to transfer motion from the closure trigger 26 to the closure sleeve 32. Support members 88 extending from the second base section 52 and securement member 72, which extends through a recess 89 in the yoke 86, support the yoke 86 within the handle portion 20.

[0118] A proximal end 90 of the closure sleeve 32 is provided with a flange 92 that is snap-fitted into a receiving recess 94 formed in a distal end 96 of the yoke 86. A proximal end 98 of the yoke 86 has a gear rack 100 that is engaged by the gear segment section 76 of the closure trigger 26. When the closure trigger 26 is moved toward the pistol grip 24 of the handle portion 20, the yoke 86 and, hence, the closure sleeve 32 move distally, compressing a spring 102 that biases the yoke 86 proximally. Distal movement of the closure sleeve 32 effects pivotal translation movement of the anvil 18 distally and toward the elongate channel 16 of the end effector 12 and proximal movement effects closing, as discussed below.

[0119] The closure trigger 26 is forward biased to an open position by a front surface 130 interacting with an engaging surface 128 of the firing trigger 28. Clamp first hook 104 that pivots top to rear in the handle portion 20 about a pin 106 restrains movement of the firing trigger 28 toward the pistol grip 24 until the closure trigger 26 is clamped to its closed position. Hook 104 restrains firing trigger 28 motion by engaging a lockout pin 107 in firing trigger 28. The hook 104 is also in contact with the closure trigger 26. In particular, a forward projection 108 of the hook 104 engages a member 110 on the intermediate section 78 of the closure trigger 26, the member 100 being outward of the bore 80 toward the handle section 74. Hook 104 is biased toward contact with member 110 of the closure trigger 26 and engagement with lockout pin 107 in firing trigger 28 by a release spring 112. As the closure trigger 26 is depressed, the hook 104 is moved top to rear, compressing the release spring 112 that is captured between a rearward projection 114 on the hook 104 and a forward projection 116 on the release button 30. As the yoke 86 moves distally in response to proximal movement of the closure trigger 26, an upper latch arm 118 of the release button 30 moves along an upper surface 120 on the yoke 86 until dropping into an upwardly presented recess 122 in a proximal, lower portion of the yoke 86. The release spring 112 urges the release button 30 outward, which pivots the upper latch arm 118 downwardly into engagement with the upwardly presented recess 122, thereby locking the closure trigger 26 in a tissue clamping position, such as depicted in FIG. 8.

[0120] The latch arm 118 can be moved out of the recess 122 to release the anvil 18 by pushing the release button 30 inward. Specifically, the upper latch arm 118 pivots upward about pin 123 of the second base section 52. The yoke 86 is then permitted to move proximally in response to return movement of the closure trigger 26.

[0121] A firing trigger return spring 124 is located within the handle portion 20 with one end attached to pin 106 of the second base section 52 and the other end attached to a pin 126 on the firing trigger 28. The firing return spring 124 applies a return force to the pin 126 for biasing the firing trigger 28 in a direction away from the pistol grip 24 of the handle portion 20. The closure trigger 26 is also biased away from pistol grip 24 by engaging surface 128 of firing trigger 28 biasing front surface 130 of closure trigger 26.

[0122] As the closure trigger 26 is moved toward the pistol grip 24, its front surface 130 engages with the engaging surface 128 on the firing trigger 28 causing the firing trigger 28 to move to its “firing” position. When in its firing position, the firing trigger 28 is located at an angle of approximately 45° to the pistol grip 24. After staple firing, the spring 124 causes the firing trigger 28 to return to its initial position. During the return movement of the firing trigger 28, its engaging surface 128 pushes against the front surface 130 of the closure trigger 26 causing the closure trigger 26 to return to its initial position. A stop member 132 extends from the second base section 52 to prevent the closure trigger 26 from rotating beyond its initial position.

[0123] The surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 additionally includes a reciprocating section 134, a multiplier 136 and a drive member 138. The reciprocating section 134 comprises a wedge sled in the implement portion 22 (not shown in FIGS. 6-9) and a metal drive rod 140.

[0124] The drive member 138 includes first and second gear racks 141 and 142. A first notch 144 is provided on the drive member 138 intermediate the first and second gear racks 141, 142. During return movement of the firing trigger 28, a tooth 146 on the firing trigger 28 engages with the first notch 144 for returning the drive member 138 to its initial position after staple firing. A second notch 148 is located at a proximal end of the metal drive rod 140 for locking the metal drive rod 140 to the upper latch arm 118 of the release button 30 in its unfired position.

[0125] The multiplier 136 comprises first and second integral pinion gears 150 and 152. The first integral pinion gear 150 is engaged with a first gear rack 154 provided on the metal drive rod 140. The second integral pinion gear 152 is engaged with the first gear rack 141 on the drive member 138. The first integral pinion gear 150 has a first diameter and the second integral pinion gear 152 has a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter.

[0126] FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 depict respectively the handle portion 20 in the start position (open and unfired), a clamped position (closed and unfired) and a fired position. The firing trigger 28 is provided with a gear segment section 156. The gear segment section 156 engages with the second gear rack 142 on the drive member 138 such that motion of the firing trigger 28 causes the drive member 138 to move back and forth between a first drive position, shown in FIG. 8, and a second drive position, shown in FIG. 9. In order to prevent staple firing before tissue clamping has occurred, the upper latch arm 118 on the release button 39 is engaged with the second notch 148 on the drive member 138 such that the metal drive rod 140 is locked in its proximal-most position, as depicted in FIG. 6. When the upper latch arm 118 falls into the recess 122, the upper latch arm 118 disengages with the second notch 148 to permit distal movement of the metal drive rod 140, as depicted in FIG. 9.

[0127] Because the first gear rack 141 on the drive member 138 and the gear rack 154 on the metal drive rod 140 are engaged with the multiplier 136, movement of the firing trigger 28 causes the metal drive rod 140 to reciprocate between a first reciprocating position, shown in FIG. 8, and a second reciprocating position, shown in FIG. 9. Since the diameter of the first pinion gear 150 is greater than the diameter of the second pinion gear 152, the multiplier 136 moves the reciprocating section 134 a greater distance than the drive member 138 is moved by the firing trigger 28. The diameters of the first and second pinion gears 150 and 152 may be changed to permit the length of the stroke of the firing trigger 28 and the force required to move it to be varied. It will be appreciated that the handle portion 20 is illustrative and that other actuation mechanisms may be employed. For instance, the closing and firing motions may be generated by automated means.

[0128] One embodiment of an end effector 12 of the surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 is depicted in further detail in FIGS. 18, 19, and 23-26. As described above, the handle portion 20 produces separate and distinct closing and firing motions that actuate the end effector 12. The end effector 12 advantageously maintains the clinical flexibility of this separate and distinct closing and firing (i.e., stapling and severing). In addition, the end effector 12 introduces the aforementioned ability to affirmatively maintain the closed spacing during firing after the clinician positions and clamps the tissue. Both features procedurally and structurally enhance the ability of the surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 by ensuring adequate spacing for instances where an otherwise inadequate amount of tissue is clamped and to enhance the clamping in instances where an otherwise excessive amount of tissue has been clamped. FIG. 10 depicts a staple cartridge embodiment 300 of the present invention installed in the end effector 12 with the firing bar 14 in its unfired, proximal position. The staple cartridge 300 has a cartridge body 302 that is divided by an elongated slot 310 that extends from a proximal end 304 of the cartridge 300 towards a tapered outer tip 306. A plurality of staple-receiving channels 320a-320f are formed within the staple cartridge body 302 and are arranged in six laterally spaced longitudinal rows 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, with three rows on each side of the elongated slot 310. Positioned within the staple-receiving channels 320a-320f are the staples 222. See FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0129] The cartridge 300 further includes four laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staple drivers 330a, 330b, 370a, and 370b as shown in FIG. 11. The “first” inside staple drivers 330a are slidably mounted within corresponding channels 320b and 320c such that each driver 330a supports two staples 222, one in a channel 320b and one in a channel 320c. Likewise, the “second” inside drivers 330b are slidably mounted within channels 320d and 320e such that each driver 330b supports two staples 222, one in a channel 320d and one in a channel 320e. The “outside” drivers 370a and 370b are slidably mounted within the staple-receiving channels 320a and 320f, respectively. Each of the outside drivers 370a and 370b supports a single staple 222. Drivers 370a are referred to herein as “first” outside drivers and drivers 370b are referred to herein as “second” outside drivers.

[0130] FIG. 12 illustrates a staple 222 that may be used in connection with the various embodiments of the present invention. The staple 222 includes a main portion 223 and two prongs 225. The prongs 225 each have a length “P” and the main portion has a width “W”. The reader will appreciate that a variety of different types of staples may be employed. For example, for a vascular staple, “P” may be approximately 0.102 inches; for a regular staple, “P” may be approximately 0.134 inches; and for a thick tissue staple, “P” may be approximately 0.160 inches. For all such staples, “W” may be approximately 0.120 inches. Other sizes of staples 222 may be employed in the manners discussed below.

[0131] The inside staple drivers 330a located on one side of the elongated slot 310 are referred to herein as “first” inside staple drivers and the inside staple drivers 330b located on the other side of the elongated slot 310 are referred to herein as “second” inside staple drivers. As will be discussed in further detail below, in one embodiment, the second inside staple drivers 330b are identical to the first inside staple drivers 330a, except for their orientation in their respective channels in the cartridge body 302.

[0132] FIGS. 13-15 illustrate one embodiment of a “first” inside double driver 330a for supporting and driving staples 222. As can be seen in those Figures, the staple driver 330a has a primary driver portion 340 and a secondary driver portion 350 that is connected to the first primary portion 340 by a central base member 360. The primary driver portion 340 has a primary driver base 342 that has a groove 343 therein adapted to mate with a corresponding vertically extending tongue (not shown) in the cartridge body 302 for guiding and stabilizing the driver 330a as it moves within its respective channel. The primary driver portion 340 further has a first forward support column 344 and a first rearward support column 346 protruding upward from the first driver base 342. The first forward support column 344 has a first forward staple-receiving groove 345 therein and the first rearward support column 346 has a first rearwardly staple-receiving groove 347 therein. See FIGS. 13-15. The first forward support column 344 and the first rearward support column 346 are spaced from each other and collectively form a first staple cradle 348 for supporting the main portion 223 of the staple 222 therein.

[0133] Similarly, the secondary driver portion 350 has a secondary driver base 352 and a secondary forward support column 354 and a secondary rearward support column 356 protruding out from the second driver base 352. The secondary forward support column 354 has a secondary forward staple-receiving groove 355 therein and the secondary rearward support column 356 has a secondary rearward staple-receiving groove 357 therein. The secondary forward support column 354 and the secondary rearward support column 356 are spaced from each other and collectively form a secondary staple cradle 358 for supporting the main portion 223 of another staple 222 therein.

[0134] As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 15, the central base member 360 has an angled rearwardly facing edge 362 adapted to be engaged by a corresponding sled cam as will be discussed in further detail below. As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, in this embodiment, the secondary forward support column 354 of the secondary driver portion is oriented relative to the first rearward support column 346 such that the staple 222 that is supported in the secondary staple cradle 358 is longitudinally offset from the staple 222 in the first staple cradle 348. The reader will appreciate that the first inside drivers 330a are each installed in one orientation into a corresponding pair of channels 320b and 320c located on one side of the elongated slot 310 in the cartridge body 302. The second inside staple drivers 330b (located on the opposite side of the elongated slot 310 from the first inside staple drivers 330a) comprise inside drivers 330a rotated 180 degrees so that their respective angled surfaces 363 face towards the proximal end 304 of the cartridge 300 to enable them to be installed in pairs of corresponding channels 320d and 320e. Thus, in this embodiment, only one inside driver configuration is employed which thereby eliminates the need for two different inside staple driver configurations for channels on each side of the elongated slot 310.

[0135] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate one embodiment of a “first” outside staple driver 370a. As can be seen in those FIGS., a first outside staple driver 370a has a second base 372 that has an angled rearwardly facing portion 374. Protruding upward from the second base 372 is a second forward support column 375 that has a second forward staple-receiving groove 376 therein. A second rearward support column 377 also protrudes upward from the second base 372 in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the second forward support column 375. The second rearward support column 377 has a second rearward staple-receiving groove 378 therein. The support columns 375, 377 collectively form a second staple cradle 379 that is configured to support a staple 222 therein as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. The staple drivers 370a also have a laterally protruding rib 371 which is received in a corresponding groove (not shown) in the cartridge body 302 for guiding and stabilizing the driver 370a as it moves within its respective channel.

[0136] The reader will appreciate that a first outside driver 370a is installed in one orientation into a corresponding channel 320a on one side of the elongated slot 310. A second outside staple driver 370b (to be located on the opposite side of the elongated slot 310 from the first outside staple drivers 370a) comprises an outside driver 370a rotated 180 degrees so that the angled surface 374′ thereon faces toward the proximal end 304 of the cartridge 300 to enable it to be installed in a corresponding channel 320f in the cartridge body 302. Thus, in this embodiment, only one outside staple driver configuration is employed which avoids the need for two different outside staple driver configurations for channels on each side of the elongated slot 310.

[0137] FIGS. 19 and 19A illustrate in cross-section one embodiment of a staple cartridge of the present invention mounted within one type of end effector 12. The end effector 12 in this embodiment employs a “stepped” anvil 18 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 23-25. In other embodiments, however, the bottom surface of the anvil is planar and not stepped. Other As can be seen in FIGS.19A, and 23-25, the anvil 18 has a central portion 19 that is offset or not coplanar with the two lateral side portions 21, 23. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the upper surface 306 of the cartridge 300 is provided with a recessed central portion 307 and two lateral side portions 309 that are adapted to closely mate with the corresponding portions 19, 21, 23, respectively, of the anvil 18, when the anvil 18 is in the closed position. See FIG. 19A. As can be seen in FIG. 24, in this embodiment, the under surfaces 200 of anvil 18 are provided with a series of forming pockets 202 that may be arranged in rows that correspond to the rows of channels in the cartridge 300. That is, row 205 of pockets 202 may correspond to channel row 500. Row 207 of pockets may correspond to channel row 502. Row 209 of pockets 202 may correspond to channel row 504. Row 211 of pockets 202 may correspond to channel row 506. Row 213 of pockets 202 may correspond to channel row 508. Row 215 of pockets 202 may correspond to channel row 510. Each pocket 202 has at least one forming surface 203 therein that is adapted to contact the ends of the staple prongs 225 being driven therein to thereby cause the prongs 225 to bend inwardly toward each other. In one embodiment, each pocket 202 has two intersecting arcuate forming surfaces 203 that are oriented as shown in FIG. 14A. Each arcuate forming surface has an apex 203′ that defines a maximum pocket depth “Z”. However other forming pocket configurations could be employed.

[0138] Returning to FIGS. 18 and 19, it can be seen that in one embodiment, the cartridge body 302 is mounted within the cartridge tray 224. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the cartridge body 302 is formed with two inside longitudinally extending slots 390 and two outside longitudinally extending slots 392. Slots 390 and 392 extend from the proximal end 304 of the cartridge to its tapered outer tip 306 (shown in FIG. 10). This embodiment further includes a wedge sled 400 that slidably supported on the cartridge tray 224. One wedge sled embodiment 400 includes a pair of inside sled cams 410, wherein one inside sled cam 410 corresponds to one of the inside longitudinally extending slots 390 and wherein the other inside sled cam 410 corresponds to the other inside longitudinally extending slot 390. See FIG. 19. The wedge sled 400 further includes a pair of outside sled cams 420, wherein one outside sled cam 420 corresponds to one of the outside longitudinally extending slots 392 and the other outside sled cam 420 corresponds to the other outside longitudinally extending slot 392 as shown in FIG. 19. When assembled, the cartridge tray 224 holds the wedge sled 400 and the drivers 330a, 330b, 370a, 370b inside the cartridge body 302.

[0139] As can be seen in FIG. 18, the elongate channel 16 has a proximally placed attachment cavity 226 that receives a channel anchoring member 228 on the distal end of the frame 34 for attaching the end effector 12 to the handle portion 20. The elongate channel 16 also has an anvil cam slot 230 that pivotally receives an anvil pivot 232 of the anvil 18. The closure sleeve 32 that encompasses the frame 34 includes a distally presented tab 234 that engages an anvil feature 236 proximate but distal to the anvil pivot 232 on the anvil 18 to thereby effect opening and closing of the anvil 18. The firing drive member 36 is shown as being assembled from the firing bar 14 attached to a firing connector 238 by pins 240, which in turn is rotatingly and proximally attached to the metal drive rod 140. The firing bar 14 is guided at a distal end of the frame by a slotted guide 239 inserted therein.

[0140] FIGS. 20-23 illustrate one embodiment of the wedge sled 400 of the present invention. As can be seen in FIGS. 20 and 23, the wedge sled 400 includes a central spacer portion 402 that extends between the inside sled cams 410. A pusher block 404 is formed on the central spacer portion 402 for engagement with the middle pin 46 of the firing bar 14. A side profile of one embodiment of an inside sled cam 410 is depicted in FIG. 21. As can be seen in that FIG., the inside sled cam 410 has a bottom surface 412, and a first camming surface 414 that forms an angle “G” with the bottom surface 412 and a second camming surface 415 that extends to a top surface 416. In one embodiment, for example, the angle “G” may be 35 degrees and the angle “G′” may be 20 degrees. The height of the inside sled cam 410 (the distance between the bottom surface 412 and the top surface 416) is represented as “first” sled cam height “H”. In one embodiment, distance “H′ is approximately 0.173 inches and the length of the top surface 416 may vary from embodiment to embodiment. As will be further evident as the present Detailed Description proceeds, the first sled cam height represents the vertical distance that the inside sled cams 410 will drive the corresponding inside drivers 330a, 330b toward the anvil 18 during operation.

[0141] The wedge sled 400 further comprises lateral spacer portions 406 that extend between the inside sled cams 410 and the outside sled cams 420 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 23. A side profile of one embodiment of an outside sled cam 420 is depicted in FIG. 22. In this embodiment, the outside sled cam 420 has a bottom surface 422 and a first camming surface 424 that forms an angle “I” with respect to the bottom surface 422 and a second camming surface 425 that to a top surface 426. In one embodiment, angle “I” may be approximately 35 degrees and angle “I′” may be approximately 20 degrees. The height of the outside sled cam 420 (the distance between the bottom surface 412 and the top surface 416) is represented as the “second” sled cam height “J”. In one embodiment, distance “J′ is approximately 0.163 inches. The second sled cam height represents the vertical distance that the outside sled cams 420 will drive the corresponding outside drivers 370a, 370b toward the anvil 18 during operation. The reader will understand that the above-recited dimensions are illustrative of one embodiment and may vary for other embodiments.

[0142] With particular reference to FIG. 23, a portion of the staple cartridge 300 is removed to expose portions of the elongate channel 16, such as recesses 212, 214 and to expose some components of the staple cartridge 300 in their unfired position. In particular, the cartridge body 302 (shown in FIG. 18) has been removed. The wedge sled 400 is shown at its proximal, unfired position with a pusher block 404 contacting the middle pin 46 (not shown in FIG. 23) of the firing bar 14. The wedge sled 400 is in longitudinal sliding contact upon the cartridge tray 224 and includes wedges sled cams 410, 420 that force upward the double drivers 330a, 330b and the single drivers 370b, 370b as the wedge sled 400 moves distally. Staples 222 (not shown in FIG. 23) resting upon the drivers 330a, 330b, 370a, 370b are thus also forced upward into contact with the anvil forming pockets 202 in anvil 18 to form closed staples. Also depicted is the channel slot 45 in the elongate channel 16 that is aligned with the elongated slot 310 in the staple cartridge 300.

[0143] FIG. 24 depicts the end effector 12, which is in an open position by a retracted closure sleeve 32, with a staple cartridge 300 installed in the elongate channel 16. The firing bar 14 is at its proximal position, with the upper pin 38 aligned in a non-interfering fashion with the anvil pocket 40. The anvil pocket 40 is shown as communicating with the longitudinal anvil slot 42 in the anvil 18. The distally presented cutting edge 48 of the firing bar 14 is aligned with and proximally from removed from the vertical slot 49 in the staple cartridge 300, thereby allowing removal of a spent cartridge and insertion of an unfired cartridge, which may be “snapfit” into the elongate channel 16. Specifically, in this embodiment, extension features 316, 318 of the staple cartridge 300 engage recesses 212, 214, respectively (shown in FIG. 23) of the elongate channel 16.

[0144] FIG. 25 depicts the end effector 12 of FIG. 23 with all of the staple cartridge 300 removed to show the middle pin 46 of the firing bar 14 as well as portion of the elongate channel 16 removed adjacent to the channel slot 45 to expose the firing bar cap 44. In addition, portions of the shaft 23 are removed to expose a proximal portion of the firing bar 14. Projecting downward from the anvil 18 near the pivot is a pair of opposing tissue stops 244 which serve to prevent tissue from being positioned too far up into the end effector 12 during clamping. FIG. 26 depicts the end effector 12 in a closed position with the firing bar 14 in an unfired position. The upper pin 38 is in the anvil pocket 40 and is vertically aligned with the anvil slot 42 for distal longitudinal movement of the firing bar 14 during firing. The middle pin 46 is positioned to push the wedge sled 400 distally so that the sled cams 410, 420 contact and lift double drivers 330a, 330b and the single drivers 370a, 370b, respectively, to drive them upwardly toward the anvil 18.

[0145] As can be appreciated from reference to FIGS. 14A, 15A and 19A, in one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the bottom of the first staple-receiving grooves 345, 347 forming the first staple cradle 349 and the apex 203′ of forming surfaces 203 of the corresponding forming pocket 202 of anvil 18, when the anvil 18 is in the closed position and when the inside driver 330a, 330b is supported on the cartridge tray 224, is referred to herein as the first staple forming distance “A”. The distance between the bottom of the secondary staple-receiving grooves 345, 347 forming the secondary staple cradle 349 and the apex 203′ of the forming surface 203 of the corresponding forming pocket 202 in the anvil 18 when the anvil 18 is in the closed position and the inside driver 330a, 330b is supported on the cartridge tray 224 is referred to herein as the secondary staple forming distance “B”. In one embodiment, the first staple forming distance “A” and the secondary staple forming distance “B” are substantially equal to each other. In other embodiments, those distances “A” and “B” may differ from each other.

[0146] As illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 19A the distance between the bottom of the second staple-receiving grooves 376, 378 that form the second staple cradle 379 and the apex 203′ of the forming surface 203 of a corresponding forming pocket 202 in anvil 18 when the anvil 18 is in the closed position and the outside drivers 370a, 370b are supported on the cartridge channel 224, is referred to herein as a “second” staple forming distance “C”. FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate the forming of staples supported on some of the first outside drivers 370a. In FIG. 27, one of the outside sled cams 420 of the wedge sled 400 is initially contacting one of the outside drivers 370a. As the wedge sled 400 continues in the driving direction represented by arrow “K” in FIG. 28, the outside sled cam 420 causes the outside drivers 370a drive the staples 222 supported thereby into the staple forming pockets 202 in the anvil 18. Likewise, as the wedge sled 400 is driven in the driving direction “K”, the inside sled cams 410 contact the inside drivers 330a, 330b and causes them to drive the staples 222 supported thereby into the corresponding staple forming pockets 202 in the anvil 18.

[0147] As indicated above, in some applications involving an area of varied tissue composition, it can be desirable to form rows of staples wherein the formed (final) heights of the staples in a row that is the farthest distance away from the cut line are greater than the formed (final) heights of those staples in the row that is closest to the cut line. In other applications, it may be desirable for the formed heights of the staples in a single row to increase (or decrease) from staple to staple. Another clinical benefit would be to have the formed heights of the staples in the outermost rows larger than formed heights of the staples in the inside rows. The various embodiments of the subject invention can provide these results while employing identical staples in all of the rows.

[0148] As the present Detailed Description proceeds, those staples 222 in the outermost rows 520, 530 of staples (those staples formed using the outside staple drivers 370a, 370b) will be referred to hereinafter as staples 222′ and those staples in the innermost rows 522, 524, 526, 528 of staples (those staples formed using the inside staple drivers 330a, 330b) will be referred to hereinafter as staples 222″. It will be understood, however, that staples 222′ and 222″ are identical to each other prior to being formed by the various embodiments of the present invention. That is, staples 222′ and 222″ each have identical prong lengths “P” and widths “W”. Returning to FIGS. 14A-16A and 21 and 22, the above desired effects may be attained by altering the staple forming distances “A”, “B”, and “C” relative to each other and/or the sled cam heights “H” and “J”. In one embodiment of the subject invention, for example, the height “H” of each of the inside sled cams 410 is substantially equal to the sled height “J” of each of the outside sled cams 420. See FIGS. 21 and 22. In this embodiment, the staple forming distances “A” and “B” are substantially equal to each other, but distances “A” and “B” are less than the staple forming distance “C”. The distance “D” between the bottoms of the first staple-receiving grooves 345, 347 and the bottom surface 342′ of the primary driver base 342 is substantially equal to the distance “E” between the bottoms of the secondary staple-receiving grooves 356, 357 and the bottom surface 352′ of the secondary driver base portion 352. See FIG. 15. Also in this embodiment, the distance “F” between the bottoms of the second staple-receiving grooves 376 and 378 and the bottom surface 373 of the third base 372 of the outside drivers 370a, 370b (FIG. 16) is less than distances “D” and “E”(FIG. 15). Because the forming distance “C” is greater than the forming distances “A” and “B”, the staples 222 supported and formed by the outside drivers 370a, 370b are not compressed as much as the staples supported and formed by the inside drivers 330a, 330b. It will be understood that similar results may be attained on the opposite side of the elongated slot 310 and the cut line 600 formed in the tissue by using the same arrangements and sizes of inside drivers 330b and outside drivers 370b. In an alternative embodiment, the same effect may be achieved by altering the depths of the forming pockets 202 corresponding to the drivers 330a and 370b such that forming distance “C” is greater than the forming distances “A” and “B”. That is, the depth (distance “Z′” in FIG. 16A) of the those forming pockets 202 corresponding to the outside drivers 370a. 370b may be greater than the depth (distance “Z” in FIG. 14A) of the forming pockets 202 that correspond to the inside drivers 330a, 330b.

[0149] FIG. 29 illustrates the rows of staples formed on each side of a cut line 600 utilizing this embodiment of the present invention wherein the forming distances “A” and “B” are equal to each other and the forming distance “C” is greater than the forming distances “A” and “B”. For example, if forming distance “C” is 0.020″ greater than forming distances “A” and “B”, the formed height of the outside staples 222′ (represented as dimension “L” in FIG. 30) in rows 520 and 530 would be 0.020 inches is greater than the formed height of the inside staples 222″ (represented as dimension “M” in FIG. 31) in rows 522, 524, 526, 528.

[0150] The same result may be achieved by utilizing another embodiment of the present invention wherein the forming distances “A”, “B” and “C” are essentially equal. In this embodiment, however, the height of each of the inside sled cams 410 (distance “H” in FIG. 21) is greater than the height of each of the outside sled cams 420 (distance “J” in FIG. 22). Thus, because the height “H” of the inside sled cams 410 is greater than the height “J″” of the outside sled cams 420, the inside sled cams 410 will drive the corresponding inside drivers 330a, 330b further towards the anvil than the outside sled cams 420 will drive the corresponding outside drivers 370a, 370b. Such driving action will cause the staples supported by the inside drivers 330a, 330b to be compressed to a greater extent than those staples supported by the outside drivers 370a, 370b. For example, if distance “H” is 0.020 inches greater than distance “J”, the formed height of staples 222′ in lines 520, 530 would be 0.020″ greater than the formed height of staples 222″ in lines 522, 524, 526, 528.

[0151] When employing yet another embodiment of the present invention, the outside rows 520, 530 of staples 222′ and the inside rows 522, 528 of staples 222″ may be formed with heights that are greater than the formed heights of the staples 222″ in the inside rows 524, 526. See FIG. 32. This result is achieved by making the forming distances “C” greater than the forming distance “A” and making forming distance “A” greater than secondary forming distance “B”.

[0152] Another embodiment of the present invention can be used to install staples where it is desirable for the formed heights of staples in a single row to vary. One such arrangement is depicted in FIG. 33. As can be seen in FIG. 33, the formed heights of the staples 222′ in the outside rows 520, 530 increase when moving from the proximal ends 521, 531 of each row 520, 530, respectively to the distal ends 523, 533 of each row 520, 530, respectively. This effect may be accomplished by decreasing the forming distance “C” for each succeeding driver 370a, 370b. That is, the driver 370a closest the proximal end of the cartridge 300 would be sized to establish a forming distance “C” that is greater than the forming distance “C” achieved by the adjacent driver 370a and so on to achieve a condition wherein each succeeding staple 222′ (moving in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the cartridge 300) would have larger formed heights. This result could also be attained in the staples 222″ in rows 522, 524, 526, 528 by similarly altering the forming distances “A” and/or “B” attained by each driver 330a, 330b. Likewise, formed heights of the staples 222′ in the outside rows 520, 530 could be made to decrease when moving from the proximal ends 521, 531 of each row 520, 530, respectively, to the distal ends 523, 533 of each row 520, 530, respectively. This result may be attained by increasing the forming distance of each succeeding driver 370a, 370b. That is, the driver 370a closest the proximal end of the cartridge 300 would have a forming distance “C” that is less than the forming distance “C” of the adjacent driver 370a and so on to achieve a condition wherein each succeeding staple 222′ (moving in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the cartridge) would have smaller formed heights. See FIG. 34.

[0153] In use, the surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 is used as depicted in FIGS. 1-2 and 35-41. In FIGS. 1-2, the instrument 10 is in its start position, having had an unfired, fully loaded staple cartridge 300 snap-fitted into the distal end of the elongate channel 16. Both triggers 26, 28 are forward and the end effector 12 is open, such as would be typical after inserting the end effector 12 through a trocar or other opening into a body cavity. The instrument 10 is then manipulated by the clinician such that tissue 248 to be stapled and severed is positioned between the staple cartridge 300 and the anvil 18, as depicted in FIG. 35. With reference to FIGS. 36 and 37, the clinician then moves the closure trigger 26 proximally until positioned directly adjacent to the pistol grip 24, locking the handle portion 20 into the closed and clamped position. The retracted firing bar 14 in the end effector 12 does not impede the selective opening and closing of the end effector 12, but rather resides within the anvil pocket 40. With the anvil 18 closed and clamped, the E-beam firing bar 14 is aligned for firing through the end effector 12. In particular, the upper pin 38 is aligned with the anvil slot 42 and the elongate channel 16 is affirmatively engaged about the channel slot 45 by the middle pin 46 and the firing bar cap 44.

[0154] With reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, after tissue clamping has occurred, the clinician moves the firing trigger 28 proximally causing the firing bar 14 to move distally into the end effector 12. In particular, the middle pin 46 enters the staple cartridge 300 through the firing drive slot 47 to effect the firing of the staples 222 (not shown in FIGS. 38 and 39) via wedge sled 400 toward the anvil 18. The lowermost pin, or firing bar cap 44, cooperates with the middle pin 46 to slidingly position cutting edge 48 of the firing bar 14 to sever tissue. The two pins 44, 46 also position the upper pin 38 of the firing bar 14 within longitudinal anvil slot 42 of the anvil 18, affirmatively maintaining the spacing between the anvil 18 and the elongate channel 16 throughout its distal firing movement.

[0155] With reference to FIGS. 40 and 41, the clinician continues moving the firing trigger 28 until brought proximal to the closure trigger 26 and pistol grip 24. Thereby, all of the ends of the staples 222 are bent over as a result of their engagement with the anvil 18. The firing bar cap 44 is arrested against a firing bar stop 250 projecting toward the distal end of the channel slot 45. The cutting edge 48 has traversed completely through the tissue. The process is complete by releasing the firing trigger 28 and by then depressing the release button 30 while simultaneously squeezing the closure trigger 26 to open the end effector 12.

[0156] In various embodiments, as outlined above, a staple cartridge can include a first row of staples which can be deformed to a first height and, in addition, a second row of staples which can be deformed to a second height, wherein the first height can be shorter than the second height. As a result, the staples within the first row can apply a larger clamping force to soft tissue captured therein as compared to the clamping force applied by the staples within the second row. Such embodiments can be utilized to apply a larger clamping force along the perimeter of incised tissue, for example, in order to reduce bleeding therefrom while providing a smaller clamping force to the tissue in an adjacent row, or rows, of staples. In various embodiments, such adjacent rows of staples can provide additional support to the soft tissue without unnecessarily stiffening the soft tissue or constricting the flow of blood therein.

[0157] In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 48, each of the staples within a first, or inner, staple row can be deformed to a height within a first height range and each of the staples within a second, or middle, staple row can be deformed to a height within a second height range, wherein the first height range can be different than the second height range. In various embodiments, the first height range and the second height range can be mutually exclusive or, in at least one embodiment, there can be some overlap between the two ranges. In at least one embodiment, the staples within the first row can be deformed to a first average height and the staples within the second row can be deformed to a second average height, wherein the first average height can be different than the second average height. Similar to the above, each of the staples within a third row of staples can be deformed to a height within a third height range which is different than the first height range and the second height range in order to apply different clamping forces to the soft tissue.

[0158] Oftentimes, further to the above, a larger clamping force can generate a larger clamping pressure within the soft tissue captured by a staple. More particularly, in at least one embodiment, a clamping force can be proportional to the product of the pressure that it applies and the area across which it is applied. As a result, a staple which is deformed to a shorter staple height can create a larger clamping pressure within the soft tissue as compared to a staple which is deformed to a larger staple height, assuming that the area across which the clamping forces are applied is the same. In view of the above, a surgical staple can include tissue-contacting areas configured to increase and/or decrease the clamping pressure applied by a given clamping force.

[0159] In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 42, a staple 622 can include crown 624 and deformable members, or legs, 630 and 634 which can extend from crown 624. In at least one embodiment, crown 624 can include tissue-contacting surfaces 625 which can be configured to support soft tissue, for example, thereon when deformable members 630 and 634 are deformed to capture the soft tissue within staple 622. As compared to portion 223 of staple 222 (FIG. 12), surfaces 625 can provide a larger surface area to support soft tissue and, as a result, reduce the pressure applied to the soft tissue by the deformed staple legs. Further to the above, in various embodiments, crowns 624 and/or tissue-contacting surfaces 625, for example, can define a width which is wider than the width of the deformable members. Referring to FIG. 48, for example, crowns 624, and/or tissue-contacting surfaces thereon, can be defined by a width “W2” which is wider than a width “W1” defined by the cross-section of deformable members 630, for example. In various embodiments, the width of crowns 624 and/or surfaces 625 can be selected such that a desired clamping pressure is applied to the tissue captured within the staples. For example, a crown 624 or surface 625 can be selected such that it is only slightly wider than one of the deformable members wherein, in such embodiments, less surface area is available to support the tissue which can increase the clamping pressure within the tissue as compared to the surface area provided by the crowns 624 or surfaces 625 illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47 which are much wider than the deformable members. In at least one embodiment, although not illustrated, the staples within a first row can include crowns having a first width and the staples within a second row can include crowns having a different, or second, width such that the first row of staples can apply a first clamping pressure to the soft tissue while the second row of staples can apply a different, or second, clamping pressure.

[0160] In various embodiments, deformable members 630 and 634 of staple 622, for example, can be comprised of separate deformable wires or, alternatively, deformable members 630 and 634 can comprise a single contiguous wire extending through at least a portion of crown 624. In at least one embodiment, the deformable members can be comprised of one or more metals, or any other suitable deformable material, such as titanium, for example. In any event, crown 624 can be overmolded onto, or otherwise suitably attached to, at least a portion of deformable members 630 and 634 in order to form tissue-contacting surfaces 625. In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 43, a staple cartridge can include an inner row of staples 622 which can be deformed to a first height (represented by dimension “M”), a middle row of staples 622 which can be deformed to a second height (represented by dimension “M′”), and an outer row of staples 622 which can be deformed to a third height (represented by dimension “L”). Similar to the above, a staple cartridge can include various staple drivers, for example, for driving staples 622 against an anvil, for example, to deform the staples to such various heights.

[0161] In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 47, a staple cartridge 600 can include staple drivers 670a and 670b, for example, which can be configured to deploy staples 622 from staple cartridge 600. In at least one embodiment, similar to the above, staple driver 670b can include a first, or inner, cradle 626 for supporting a first, or inner, staple 622 a distance “A” from datum 603, a second, or middle, cradle 627 for supporting a second, or middle, staple 622 a distance “B” from datum 603, and a third, or outer, cradle 628 for supporting a third, or outer, staple 622 a distance “C”. Datum 603 can represent a forming surface of an anvil against which the staples can be deformed although, in various embodiments, an anvil can include various forming surfaces which may not lie along a single datum. In any event, referring to FIG. 48, the inner staple 622 can be deformed to a staple height represented by dimension M, the middle staple 622 can be deformed to a staple height represented by dimension M′, and the outer staple 622 can be deformed to a staple height represented by dimension L. In such embodiments, the inner staple 622 can be part of a first row of staples which apply a first, or larger, clamping force to tissue “T”, the middle staple 622 can be part of a second row of staples which apply a second, or intermediate, clamping force to tissue T, and the outer staple 622 can be part of a third row of staples which apply a third, or smaller, clamping force to tissue T.

[0162] In various other embodiments, referring to FIG. 46, a staple cartridge 600′ can include staple drivers 670a′ and 670b′ which can, similar to the above, be configured to deploy staples 622 from staple cartridge 600. In at least one embodiment, staple driver 670b′ can include a first, or inner, cradle 626′ for supporting a first, or inner, staple 622 a distance A′ from datum 603, a second, or middle, cradle 627′ for supporting a second, or middle, staple 622 a distance B′ from datum 603, and a third, or outer, cradle 628′ for supporting a third, or outer, staple 622 a distance C′ from datum 603, where C′ can be shorter than B′, and where B′ can be shorter than A′. In at least one such embodiment, the outer staple 622 can be deformed to a staple height which is shorter than the staple height to which the inner and middle staples are deformed.

[0163] In various embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47, staples 622 can have the same, or at least substantially the same, undeformed height “P”. In other various embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, a staple cartridge can include staples having different undeformed staple heights. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 44, staple cartridge 600″, for example, can include inner staple 622a supported a distance A″ away from datum 603, middle staple 622b supported a distance B″ away from datum 603, and outer staple 622c supported a distance C″ away from datum 603, where inner staple 622a can be taller than staples 622b and 622c when measured in their undeformed configurations. In various embodiments, the undeformed heights of the staples and the distances in which the staples are displaced can be calculated to provide a suitable arrangement of deformed staple heights within the targeted soft tissue. Similar to the above, in at least one embodiment and referring to FIG. 45, staple cartridge 600′″, for example, can include inner staple 622d supported a distance A′″ away from datum 603, middle staple 622e supported a distance B′″ away from datum 603, and outer staple 622f supported a distance C′″ away from datum 603, where inner staple 622d can be shorter than staples 622e and 622f, and where middle staple 622e can be shorter than staple 622f when measured in their undeformed configurations.

[0164] As outlined above, a staple can be configured to apply a clamping force and pressure to soft tissue captured therein. In various circumstances, it may be desirable to maintain such a clamping force and pressure for a prolonged period of time. In other circumstances, it may be desirable for the clamping force and/or pressure to increase and/or decrease during the healing process. In various embodiments, various portions of a staple, such as the crown and/or deformable members, for example, can be coated in a material which can expand and increase the clamping force and/or pressure to the soft tissue after the staple has been deployed into the tissue. In at least one embodiment, various portions of a staple can be comprised of a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or biofragmentable material which, as the material breaks down, can slowly relieve the clamping force and/or pressure applied to the soft tissue. Such embodiments are described in greater detail below.

[0165] In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 49, a surgical staple 722 can include a first deformable member 730 including first leg 731 and second leg 732 and, in addition, a second deformable member 734 including first leg 735 and second leg 736. In at least one embodiment, staple 722 can further include dissolvable crown 724 which can be configured to hold deformable members 730 and 734 relative to each other and, after crown 724 has been dissolved, permit deformable members 730 and 734 to move relative to each other. Similar to the above, referring to FIGS. 50 and 51, a surgical staple 722′ can include a first deformable member 730′, a second deformable member 734′, and a crown 724′ which can connect the deformable members before it is dissolved. In various embodiments, each deformable member can include a base 723′ which can connect the first and second legs of the deformable member where, in at least one embodiment, the bases 723′ of the deformable members can be embedded in a material which is overmolded thereon. In various embodiments, as outlined above, the material can include a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or biofragmentable material such as Vicryl and/or PDS from Ethicon, Inc., for example. As used herein, the terms dissolvable, bioabsorbable, and biofragmentable all generally refer to materials that can be at least partially assimilated by the body after being implanted into a patient, for example.

[0166] In use, staple 722′, for example, can be inserted into soft tissue via a stapler and can be deformed into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 52. More particularly, in at least the illustrated embodiment, deformable members 730′ and 734′ can be deformed by the anvil of the stapler such that ends 733′ of legs 731′ and 735′ are brought into close proximity to crown 724′, for example. Once staple 722′ is implanted into the tissue, crown 724′ may begin to break down, dissolve, and weaken. More particularly, referring to FIG. 53, the bioabsorbable material of crown 724′ may deteriorate to the point where first member 730′ and second deformable member 734′ become disconnected from each other. Once first member 730′ and second member 734′ have become disconnected, they can move relative to one another as illustrated in FIG. 54. The time required for crown 724′ to sufficiently dissolve may depend on the material used and/or the size of crown 724′. Polyglatin 910 material, sold under the tradename Vicryl, for example, may dissolve in 7-14 days.

[0167] In various embodiments, a dissolvable crown may provide several therapeutic advantages. For example, when staple 722′ is initially deployed, deformable members 730′ and 734′ may significantly compress the tissue within the staple against crown 724′. In some applications, this compression may be desirable to limit bleeding from the tissue. As crown 724′ deteriorates, the gap between the deformed members 730′ and 734′ and crown 724′ may increase thereby relaxing the compressive forces acting on the tissue. In some applications, relaxing the compression forces during the healing process may allow the tissue to slowly expand and return to its normal thickness over a period of time. In some embodiments, crown 724′ can be coated with a hydrophilic material that initially expands to compress the tissue captured within the staple before dissolving away thereafter. In these embodiments, the hydrophilic material can expand by absorbing water from the surrounding tissue and fluids. In addition to the above, staple 722′, when it is inserted into the tissue, may be very stiff and, if several staples are inserted into the tissue, the tissue may not be permitted to move and expand during the healing process. However, after crowns 724′ of staples 722′ have dissolved, the deformable members of the staples may be able to move relative to each other while still holding the underlying tissue together.

[0168] In various embodiments, the deformable members of a staple may be comprised of a substantially non-dissolvable or non-bioabsorbable material. In other embodiments, at least one of the deformable members may be comprised of a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or biofragmentable material such as magnesium or iron, for example. In at least one embodiment, the iron is pure iron. In either event, the dissolvable material of the deformable members 730′ and 734′, for example, can be selected such that they dissolve at the same rate as, slower than, or faster than the dissolvable material of crown 724′, for example. In at least one example, the material of crown 724′ can be selected such that it completely dissolves away while deformable members 730′ and 734′ are still holding tissue together. In other various embodiments, the material of first deformable member 730′ can be selected such that it dissolves faster than the material of second deformable member 734′. Accordingly, the deformable members of these embodiments may allow for a staggered release of the tissue. In other various embodiments, at least two adjacent staples can be connected by a bridge before and/or after the staples have been deployed into the tissue. In these embodiments, the bridge connecting the staples can be comprised of materials that dissolve away at the same rate, and/or a different rate, than the first and second staples. In these embodiments, the bridges can dissolve away before the first staples and/or the second staples allowing for a staggered release of the tissue.

[0169] In various embodiments, the staples described above can be used to approximate tissue, i.e., the staples can secure resected or damaged tissue such that the strength of the resected or damaged tissue approximates that of healthy tissue. To this end, a method of approximating tissue can include suturing tissue with a surgical staple comprised of a dissolvable material and a non-dissolvable material to approximate tissue in a first state, and dissolving the dissolvable material to cause the remaining non-dissolvable material to approximate the tissue in a second state. In at least one embodiment, the tissue approximation in the second state is more flexible than in the first state.

[0170] In addition to the above, a crown may be comprised of at least two overmolded or co-molded materials. More particularly, referring to FIG. 55, crown 724″ of staple 722″ may be comprised of a first material 740″ overmolded onto at least a portion of deformable members 730″ and 734″ and a second material 742″ overmolded onto first material 740″, for example. In such an embodiment, second material 742″ can be configured to dissolve away quickly thereby allowing deformable members 730″ and 734″ to separate from each other early on in the healing process. However, in at least one embodiment, first material 740″ can be selected to dissolve at a slower rate than second material 742″ in order for crown 724″ to continue to provide a compressive force on the tissue even after second material 742″ has completely dissolved away. In at least one embodiment, first material 740″ can be injection molded onto deformable members 730″ and 734″ and then permitted to cure, and/or substantially solidify, before second material 742″ is injection molded onto first material 740″. In other various embodiments, first material 740″ and second material 742″ can be injection molded onto deformable members 730″ and 734″ at substantially the same time or in rapid succession. In these embodiments, the first and second materials can chemically bond together to provide sufficient strength therebetween so that the staple may be handled without the first and second materials separating from one another. In other embodiments, the first and second materials can form mechanically interlocking features to accomplish the same result.

[0171] In at least one embodiment, referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 51, crown 724′ may include reduced cross-section 737′ intermediate portions 738′ and 739′. In use, intermediate section 737′, as it has a smaller cross-section than portions 738′ and 739′, may completely dissolve away before sections 738′ and 739′ thereby allowing first member 730′ to become unconnected from second member 734′ before the entirety of crown 724′ has dissolved. In at least one embodiment, the cross-sections of sections 737′, 738′, and 739′ can be selected such that deformable members 730′ and 734′ can become unconnected at a desired stage in the healing process. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 56A, crown 734′″ of staple 722′″ can include score marks 743′″ which reduce the thickness of crown 724′″ in the scored areas. In these embodiments, the score marks may be formed when crowns 724′″ are overmolded onto deformable members 730′″ and 734′″ or formed by a cutting tool thereafter. As a result of score marks 743′″, crown 724′″, as it dissolves, can break up into several small pieces which are, in some circumstances, more easily absorbable by the body. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 56B, crown 724″″ may include a plurality of pockets 744″″ intermediate raised portions 745″″. In use, the material intermediate raised portions 745″″ may dissolve away leaving behind a lattice, or grid, of raised portions 745″″ intermediate deformable members 730″″ and 734″″.

[0172] In at least one embodiment, a crown of a surgical staple can also comprised of at least one therapeutic drug. In these embodiments, as the dissolvable material deteriorates, the therapeutic drug can be absorbed by the surrounding tissue. In some embodiments, the drug is dispersed throughout the dissolvable material such that the drug is steadily released during the healing process. In other embodiments, however, the therapeutic drug may be unevenly dispersed throughout the dissolvable material, or layered within and/or on the material, to provide an increased dosage of the drug at a particular stage in the healing process.

[0173] In various embodiments, a crown overmolded or assembled onto various portions of a staple may act as an electrical insulator. In at least one embodiment, a staple having such a crown or insulator may reduce the possibility of arcing along a row of staples when an electrocautery device is used in situ, for example. In effect, the absorbable insulators, or crowns, on the staples can substantially prevent an electrical current from jumping betweens staples as the top of each staple may not be electrically conductive under normal operating conditions. As a result, the possibility of damaging tissue may be reduced.

[0174] In various circumstances, when one or more of the deformable members of a staple are inserted through soft tissue, for example, the deformable members can puncture the soft tissue creating holes therein. As a result, eventhough the deformable members can substantially fill the puncture holes, blood may flow, at least initially, from the soft tissue surrounding the puncture holes. In various embodiments of the present invention, as indicated above, at least a portion of the deformable members can expand and apply a compressive force against the soft tissue in order to stop, or at least reduce, bleeding from the soft tissue surrounding the puncture holes. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 81-87, at least a portion of first and second deformable members 1130 and 1134 can be coated with expandable coating 1199. In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 82, expandable coating 1199 can have a first diameter when it is initially inserted into the soft tissue and can apply, depending upon the size of the deformable members and the puncture holes, a first compressive force to the soft tissue surrounding the deformable members. Thereafter, referring to FIG. 86, expandable coating 1199 can increase in size to apply a larger, or second, compressive force to the soft tissue surrounding the deformable members. In various embodiments, this second compressive force may be sufficient to close, or at least constrict, the blood vessels in the soft tissue surrounding the puncture hole to eliminate, or at least reduce, the flow of blood therethrough.

[0175] In various embodiments, expandable coating 1199 can be comprised of a hydrophilic material, or any other suitable material which has an affinity for water, that can absorb blood, or other fluids in the surgical site, in order to expand as described above. In at least one embodiment, a fluid can be introduced into the surgical site which can cause expandable coating 1199 to expand. In various embodiments, expandable coating 1199 can be comprised of a cross-linked ester compound having a polyethylene glycol base polymer, for example. In at least one such embodiment, expandable coating 1199 can be overmolded onto at least a portion of staple 1122 using an injection molding process. In various embodiments, the deformable members and/or crown, such as crown 1124, for example, can be entirely, or at least partially, comprised of an expandable material. In at least one such embodiment, the deformable members and/or crown can expand to compress the tissue captured within the deformable members after they have been deformed. In either event, after expandable material 1199 has expanded, at least a portion thereof can begin to dissolve and can be absorbed by the patient's body. In such embodiments, the second compressive force applied to the soft tissue can be relaxed and the soft tissue can be permitted to expand and grow in order to fill the puncture holes, for example. Such embodiments can be particularly useful when the deformable members and/or crown are also comprised of dissolvable or bioabsorbable materials as described above. In various embodiments, the expandable coating can also comprise a therapeutic agent, for example, which can be released as expandable coating 1199 is dissolved, for example. Further embodiments are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/824,446, entitled SURGICAL STAPLE HAVING AN EXPANDABLE PORTION, which was filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0176] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 88-91, surgical staple 1222 can include crown 1224, first deformable member 1230, and second deformable member 1234 where deformable members 1230 and 1234 can extend from crown 1224. In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of first deformable member 1230 and/or second deformable member 1234 can have a non-circular cross-section. More particularly, referring to FIG. 88, the cross-section of deformable member 1234, for example, can include arcuate portion 1295 and flat portion 1297. In various embodiments, deformable members 1230 and/or 1234 can comprise a wire having a cross-section which is substantially constant throughout the length of the wire or, in other embodiments, a wire having more than one cross-section. In at lest one embodiment, although not illustrated, a first deformable member and a second deformable member can have different cross-sections. In at least one such embodiment, the first deformable member can include a substantially circular cross-section, for example, and the second deformable member can include a non-circular cross-section, for example. In other various embodiments, the first deformable member can include a non-circular cross-section which is different than a non-circular cross-section of the second deformable member.

[0177] In various embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of deformable members 1230 and 1234, for example, can control the manner and direction in which deformable members 1230 and 1234 are bent when they are deformed by an anvil as described above. In at least one embodiment, flat portions 1297 can be oriented such that they are facing each other and, as a result, flat portions 1297 can cause deformable members 1230 and 1234 to bend toward each other when a force is applied thereto. In other various embodiments, flat portions 1297, for example, can be oriented in any suitable manner to allow the deformable members to bend in a desired direction. In effect, the size and location of flat portion 1297 can affect the moment of inertia of the cross-section of the deformable members and, correspondingly, affect the manner in which the deformable members respond to the bending stress applied thereto. In at least one embodiment, the deformation of the deformable members can be controlled in order to apply a desired compressive force to the soft tissue captured within the staple. More particularly, in at least one embodiment, deformable members 1230 and 1234 can be bent until they contact the soft tissue and apply a compressive force to the soft tissue where the amount of force applied is largely determined by the amount and direction in which deformable members 1230 and 1234 are deformed and, in addition, the geometry of the portion of the deformable members which is in contact with the soft tissue. For example, a flat portion of a deformable member can be configured to apply a lower clamping pressure to soft tissue than a round portion as a flat portion may provide more contact area across which the clamping force can be applied. In further various embodiments, the cross-sections of deformable members can include any suitable combination of flat, arcuate, and/or radiused surfaces including those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/824,299, entitled SURGICAL STAPLE HAVING A DEFORMABLE MEMBER WITH A NON-CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRY, which was filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0178] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 57-65, staple 822 can include base 823, first deformable member 830, and second deformable member 834 where, in at least one embodiment, staple 822 can further include crown 824 having apertures 846 defined therein which can be configured to receive the first and second deformable members. As described in further detail below, deformable members 830 and 834 can be configured to move, or slide, within apertures 846 such that base 823 can be moved relative to crown 824. In at least one such embodiment, each aperture 846 can define an axis 847 extending therethrough where the deformable members can be configured to move along axes 847 when they are moved within apertures 846. In various embodiments, crown 824, referring to FIG. 60, can include recess 848 which can be configured to receive base 823 and at least limit, if not prevent, relative movement between base 823 and crown 824. In at least one embodiment, base 823 can be movably positioned within recess 848 such that recess 848 can permit deformable members 830 and 834 to move along axes 847 but at least inhibit base 823 from moving transversely to axes 847. In various embodiments, recess 848 can be configured to receive base 823 in a press-fit and/or snap-fit configuration such that, once base 823 is positioned in recess 848, base 823 can be substantially immovable relative to crown 824.

[0179] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 66-69, staples 822 can be removably stored within a staple cartridge, such as staple cartridge 800, for example. In at least one embodiment, staple cartridge 800 can include body 801 having cavities 802 defined therein. Staple cartridge body 801 can further include deck 803 having top surface 804 where cavities 802 can include an opening in top surface 804. In various embodiments, each cavity 802 can be configured to receive at least a portion of a staple 822 where deck 823 can include recesses 805 which can be configured to removably receive crowns 824. In use, referring to FIG. 66, base 823 can be situated in a first position in cavity 802 before it is moved toward crown 824. In at least one embodiment, deformable members 830 and 834 can include ends 819 where, in this first position, ends 819 can be positioned within or proximal to apertures 846. In such embodiments, as a result, when deformable members 830 and 834 are moved relative to crown 824 as described above, deformable members 830 and 834 can be pre-aligned with axes 847 and the possibility of deformable members 830 and 834 becoming misaligned with apertures 846 can be reduced.

[0180] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 67 and 68, deformable members 830 and 834 and base 823 of staple 822 can be moved, or slid, relative to crown 824 by driver 850. In at least one embodiment, as outlined above, staple cartridge 800 can further include a wedge sled configured to lift driver 850 and move base 823 toward crown 824. Although the wedge sled is not illustrated in FIGS. 67 and 68, exemplary sleds are described and illustrated in the present application and can include wedge sled 400 in FIG. 20, for example. In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 67, driver 850 can push or slide base 823 upwardly until base 823 contacts crown 824 and engages recess 848 as described above. Thereafter, referring to FIGS. 68 and 69, base 823 and crown 824 can be forced upwardly by driver 850 such that crown 824 is removed from recess 805. In various embodiments, crown 824, for example, can be press-fit or snap-fit within recesses 805 such that driver 850 must apply a sufficient force to dislodge crown 824 from recess 805. In other various embodiments, as described in greater detail below, crown 824, for example, can be integrally molded with deck 803 such that driver 850 must apply a sufficient force to base 823 to break crown 824 away from staple cartridge body 801.

[0181] In various embodiments, driver 850, for example, can be configured to drive deformable members 830 and 834 against an anvil such that the deformable members are deformed by the anvil, as described above. As a result, also similar to the above, the deformable members can capture the soft tissue and compress it against crown 824. In various embodiments, crown 824 may further include tissue-contacting surface 825 which can be used to control the compressive pressure applied to the soft tissue as outlined above. By way of example, when surface 825 includes a large area against which the soft tissue is compressed, the compressive pressure applied to the soft tissue can be much less than when surface 825 includes a smaller area. In at least one embodiment, tissue-contacting surface 825 can have a first width and base 823 can have a second width. In at least one such embodiment, the first width of tissue-contacting surface 825 can be wider than the second width of base 823 such that tissue-contacting surface 825 comes into contact with tissue and not base 823.

[0182] In various embodiments, tissue can be captured and compressed between staple cartridge 800 and the anvil before staples 822 are deployed into the soft tissue. In at least one embodiment, crowns 824 can be positioned within recesses 805 of staple cartridge body 801 such that surfaces 825 of crowns 824 can be aligned, or substantially flush, with top surface 804 of deck 803. In at least one such embodiment, as a result, the compressive force, or pressure, applied to the soft tissue by deck 803 and crowns 824 can be substantially the same. In other various embodiments, crowns 824 can be positioned within recesses 805 such that surfaces 825 are positioned above top surface 804 of staple deck 803. In such embodiments, the compressive force, or pressure, applied to the soft tissue by crowns 825 can be larger than the compressive force, or pressure, applied by deck 803. In various embodiments, the relative distance between surfaces 825 and top surface 804 can be selected to provide a desired pre-deployment compression force, or pressure, to the soft tissue. In other various embodiments, surfaces 825 can be positioned below top surface 804 of deck 803 such that the compression force, or pressure, applied to the soft tissue by surfaces 825 is less than the compressive force, or pressure, applied by deck 803.

[0183] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 58, 61, and 64, staple 822′ can include deformable members 830′ and 834′ which may be configured to pierce crown 824′ in lieu of passing through apertures as described above with respect to staple 822. In such embodiments, ends 819′ of the deformable members can be sharp enough to puncture crown 824′ and create holes therein which can allow deformable members 830′ and 834′ to move, or slide, relative thereto. In other various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 59, 62, and 65, staple 822″ can include deformable members 830″ and 834″ which can be positioned outside the perimeter of crown 824″. In at least one such embodiment, although not illustrated, crown 824″ can include recesses, or slots, which can be configured to slidably receive deformable members 830″ and 834″. In any event, referring to FIGS. 70-73, a staple, such as staple 822′″, for example, can include a slidable crown, such as slidable crown 824′″, which can be slid relative to deformable members 830′″ and 834′″ before, during, and/or after the deformable members are deformed by an anvil. In at least one embodiment, a staple 822′″, or any other suitable staple described herein, can be deformed to a staple height designated by distance “L”, for example, or a shorter staple height designated by distance “M” in order to achieve the advantages discussed herein.

[0184] As outlined above, a portion of a staple cartridge can be broken away from the body of the staple cartridge as a staple is deployed therefrom. In various embodiments, this portion can be configured to be positioned intermediate the base of the staple and soft tissue captured within the staple. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 74-76, a surgical stapling system can include staple cartridge 900 having staple pads 924 integrally molded into deck 903 of staple cartridge 900. Further to the above, staple cartridge 900 can include one or more score marks 951 and slots 952 surrounding staple pads 924 such that staple pads 924 can be easily separated from deck 903. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 76, the stapling system can include drivers 950 having shears 953 which can be configured to press against staple pads 924 when bases 923 of staples 922 are brought in close proximity to staple saddles 948 of pads 924 and “punch-out” staple pads 924 from deck 903. In at least one embodiment, after staple pads 924 have been punched out from deck 903, the staple pads can be positioned intermediate bases 923 and the tissue captured within staples 922. As a result, staple pads 924 can be configured to act as the crown of the staple or, in alternative embodiments, act as a buttressing member intermediate the staple and the tissue. In at least one embodiment, similar to the above, staple pads 924 can be comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

[0185] Similar to staple cartridges 600 and 800, for example, staple cartridge 900 can be configured to deploy staples 922 such that they can be deformed to various staple heights utilizing various staple drivers and/or various staple leg lengths to provide a desired clamping force and/or pressure as described above. In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 77-79, other means can be utilized to provide a desired clamping force and/or pressure to soft tissue including, in at least one embodiment, a staple cartridge having one or more rows of staples stored therein which have different crown heights. More particularly, in at least one embodiment, a staple cartridge can include a first row of first staples 1022 which have a crown height of Y, a second row of staples 1022′ which have a crown height of Y1, and a third row of staples 1022″ which have a crown height of Y2. Owing to the different crown heights of the staples, the third staples 1022″, for example, can be configured to apply a larger clamping force to soft tissue captured therein as compared to staples 1022 and 1022′, assuming that deformable members 1030 and 1034 of the staples are deformed the same amount. Similarly, second staples 1022′ can be configured to apply a larger clamping force than first staples 1022.

[0186] In various embodiments, further to the above, the distance between tissue-contacting surfaces 1025 of crown 1024 and tips 1019 of the deformable members of first staples 1022, i.e., distance X, can be larger than the distances between the tissue-contacting surfaces 1025 and deformable member tips 1019 of staples 1022′ and 1022″, i.e., distances X1 and X2, respectively. In such embodiments, when deformable members 1030 and 1034 of each of the staples are deformed the same distance, staple 1022 can define a larger area, or volume, for the soft tissue to reside therein as compared to staples 1022′ and 1022″. Owing to the larger area, or volume, defined by staple 1022, deformable members 1030 and 1034 may apply a lesser clamping force to the soft tissue as compared to staples 1022′ and 1022″ and, as a result, such staples can be selectively utilized to provide a desired therapeutic effect. In at least one such embodiment, each staple 1022, 1022′, and 1022″ can have the same overall undeformed stapled height represented by distance “Z”, where the sum of the distances of X and Y, X1 and Y1, and X2 and Y2 can respectively equal, or at least substantially equal, Z. To achieve the above, crowns 1024, 1024′, and 1024″ can be overmolded onto at least portions of the deformable members of staples 1022, 1022′, and 1022″, respectively, such the position of tissue-contacting surfaces 1025 with respect to tips 1019 can be controlled through an injection molding process.

[0187] In various embodiments, further to the above, a staple cartridge can include, among other things, a first row of first staples 1022, a second row of staples 1022′, and a wedge sled for deploying staples 1022 and 1022′ from the staple cartridge, for example. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge can further include at least one staple driver which can be configured to cooperate with the wedge sled to deploy the staples. Similar to the above, in various embodiments, each staple driver can include a first cradle for supporting a first staple 1022 and a second cradle for supporting a second staple 1022′ wherein the first and second cradles can be positioned relative to an anvil forming surface such that they can define the same, or nearly the same, distance therebetween. In such embodiments, owing to the different crown heights of staples 1022 and 1022′ as outlined above, staples 1022 can apply a different clamping force than staples 1022′ eventhough they are driven the same, or at least substantially the same, staple-deforming distance by the staple drivers. Stated another way, the tissue-contacting surfaces 1025 of staples 1022′ can be positioned closer to the staple forming surface than the tissue-contacting surfaces 1025 of staples 1022 eventhough the bottom surfaces 1055 of staples 1022 and 1022′ are supported at substantially the same distance relative to the staple-forming surface.

[0188] In various alternative embodiments, further to the above, the staple drivers for deploying the various staples described herein can be integrally-formed with the crowns of the staples, for example. In at least one embodiment, such integrally-formed drivers can simplify the assembly of the staple cartridge and, in various circumstances, reduce the possibility of misalignment between the staple drivers and the staples. In various embodiments, the integrally-formed drivers can be at least partially comprised of a bio-absorbable material, for example, such that, when the staple drivers are deployed with the staples into the patient, the staple drivers can dissolve during the healing process.

[0189] As described above and illustrated herein, rows of staples can be arranged in a linear, or at least substantially linear, arrangement, and can be deployed by various surgical staplers including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,543, entitled LINEAR STAPLER WITH IMPROVED FIRING STROKE, which issued on Dec. 16, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,789, entitled SURGICAL STAPLER, which issued on Oct. 17, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,923, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A FIRING LOCKOUT FOR AN UNCLOSED ANVIL, which issued on Dec. 5, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, although the present invention is not so limited. In various embodiments, rows of staples can be arranged in arcuate, curved, and/or curvi-linear arrangements to achieve the advantages and effects outlined herein and can be deployed by surgical staplers including those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,165, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH A CURVED END EFFECTOR, which was filed on Jan. 11, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIG. 80, for example, a staple cartridge can be configured to deploy concentric, or at least substantially concentric, rows of staples including a first row of staples having a first deformed height represented by dimension “M” and, in addition, a second row of staples having a second deformed height represented by dimension “L”. In various circumstances, such rows of staples can be deployed by surgical staplers including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,544, entitled SURGICAL ANASTOMOSIS STAPLING INSTRUMENT, which issued on Dec. 21, 1993, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0190] Further to the above, the various staple cartridges disclosed herein can be disposable. In at least one embodiment, an expended staple cartridge, or an at least partially expended staple cartridge, can be removed from a surgical stapler and replaced with another staple cartridge. In other various embodiments, the staple cartridge may not be removable and/or replaceable during the ordinary use of the surgical instrument but, in some circumstances, may be replaceable while and/or after the surgical stapler is reconditioned as described in greater detail below. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can be part of a disposable loading unit or end-effector which can further include a staple cartridge carrier, anvil, cutting member, and/or staple driver. In at least one such embodiment, the entire, or at least a portion of, the disposable loading unit or end-effector can be detachably connected to a surgical instrument and can be configured to be replaced.

[0191] The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. In either case, however, the device can be reconditioned for reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning can include any combination of the steps of disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement of particular pieces, and subsequent reassembly. In particular, the device can be disassembled, and any number of the particular pieces or parts of the device can be selectively replaced or removed in any combination. Upon cleaning and/or replacement of particular parts, the device can be reassembled for subsequent use either at a reconditioning facility, or by a surgical team immediately prior to a surgical procedure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that reconditioning of a device can utilize a variety of techniques for disassembly, cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all within the scope of the present application.

[0192] Preferably, the invention described herein will be processed before surgery. First, a new or used instrument is obtained and if necessary cleaned. The instrument can then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, the instrument is placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plastic or TYVEK bag. The container and instrument are then placed in a field of radiation that can penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation, x-rays, or high-energy electrons. The radiation kills bacteria on the instrument and in the container. The sterilized instrument can then be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container keeps the instrument sterile until it is opened in the medical facility.

[0193] While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the present invention has been discussed in terms of endoscopic procedures and apparatus. However, use herein of terms such as “endoscopic” should not be construed to limit the present invention to a surgical stapling and severing instrument for use only in conjunction with an endoscopic tube (i.e., trocar). On the contrary, it is believed that the present invention may find use in any procedure where access is limited to a small incision, including but not limited to laparoscopic procedures, as well as open procedures. Moreover, the unique and novel aspects of the various staple cartridge embodiments of the present invention may find utility when used in connection with other forms of stapling apparatuses without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.