Firing member displacement system for a stapling instrument

[0001] With regard to previous surgical stapling instruments, a surgical stapling instrument could include a handle, a shaft, and an end effector, wherein the end effector could be inserted into a surgical site within a patient to staple and/or incise tissue located within the surgical site. In various embodiments, the end effector could be configured to receive a staple cartridge wherein, after the staple cartridge had been at least partially expended, the staple cartridge could be removed from the end effector and replaced with a new, unspent staple cartridge. In order to replace the staple cartridge, in various circumstances, the end effector had to be removed from the surgical site. While suitable for their intended purpose, such procedures required considerable time to perform. Disclosed herein are improvements over the foregoing; however, this discussion of previous surgical stapling instruments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way.

[0002] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle comprising a trigger, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a displacing cam, and a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures; and a plurality of staples each comprising at least one staple leg positioned in an aperture, wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a plurality of staple drivers positioned within the channel, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move the staple drivers between a first position and a second position, and a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil when the staples are driven into their second position. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the staple cartridges into the channel and a firing member operably coupled with the trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from the trigger to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path, wherein the firing path comprises, one, a proximal position in which the firing member is in contact with the displacing cam and is displaced in a transverse direction with respect to the firing path, wherein a staple cartridge can slide past the firing member when the firing member is displaced in the transverse direction, two, a plurality of firing positions in which the firing member is in contact with the staple drivers, and, three, a distal position.

[0003] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument assembly can comprise a shaft including a removable magazine and a displacing cam and a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the magazine, wherein each staple cartridge comprises cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures and a plurality of staples each comprising a staple leg positioned in an aperture, wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the staple cartridges into the channel; and a firing member configured to be moved along a firing path, wherein the firing path comprises a proximal position in which the firing member is in contact with the displacing cam and is displaced in a transverse direction with respect to the firing path, wherein a staple cartridge can slide past the firing member when the firing member is displaced in the transverse direction, and a plurality of firing positions in which the firing member drives the staples against the anvil.

[0004] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a shaft comprising a frame and a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures and a plurality of staples each comprising a staple leg positioned in an aperture, wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the staple cartridges into the channel, and a firing member configured to be moved along a firing path, wherein the firing path comprises a proximal position in which the firing member is in contact with the frame and is displaced downwardly with respect to the firing path, wherein a staple cartridge can slide past the firing member when the firing member is displaced in the downward direction and a plurality of firing positions in which the firing member drives the staples against the anvil.

[0005] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle including a trigger, a shaft extending from the handle, and a firing member operably coupled with the trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from the trigger to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, and a first jaw comprising a proximal end extending from the shaft, a distal end, a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, and a plurality of staple drivers, wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move each staple driver from an undeployed position into a deployed position as the firing member is moved from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move the staple drivers from the deployed position into the undeployed position as the firing member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staples are configured to contact the anvil when the staples are deployed, and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the channel.

[0006] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument assembly can comprise a shaft, a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a plurality of staples, and a firing member configured to move along a firing path. The surgical stapling instrument assembly can further comprise a first jaw including a proximal portion attached to the shaft, a distal portion, a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, and a plurality of staple drivers, wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move each staple driver from a first position into a second position as the firing member is moved from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move the staple drivers from the second position into the first position as the firing member is moved from the distal portion to the proximal portion. The surgical stapling instrument assembly can further comprise, one, a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staples are configured to contact the anvil when the staples are deployed, and, two, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the channel.

[0007] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise, one, a shaft configured to store a plurality of staple cartridges, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a plurality of staples, and a tissue contacting surface and, two, a firing member configured to move along a firing path. The instrument can further include a first jaw comprising a proximal portion attached to the shaft, a distal portion, and a plurality of staple drivers, wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and lift each staple driver toward the tissue contacting surface as the firing member is moved between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and lower the staple drivers away from the tissue contacting surface as the firing member is moved between the distal portion and the proximal portion. The instrument can further include a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staples are configured to contact the anvil when the staple drivers are lifted toward the tissue-contacting surface, and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the first jaw.

[0008] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle comprising a trigger, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and a firing member operably coupled with the trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from the trigger to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path. The instrument can further comprise a first staple cartridge positioned within the shaft comprising a first cartridge body comprising a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of first staples each comprising at least one first staple leg positioned in a first aperture, wherein the first staple legs are slidable within the first apertures, and wherein the first staple legs comprise a first length, and a second staple cartridge positioned within the shaft comprising a second cartridge body comprising a plurality of second apertures and a plurality of second staples each comprising at least one second staple leg positioned in a second aperture, wherein the second staple legs are slidable within the second apertures, and wherein the second staple legs comprise a second length which is different than the first length. The instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the first and second staple cartridges into the channel from a staging position.

[0009] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument assembly can comprise a shaft comprising a removable magazine, a firing member movable along a firing path, and a first staple cartridge positioned within the magazine, wherein the first staple cartridge comprises a first cartridge body comprising a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of first staples each comprising a first staple leg positioned in a first aperture, wherein the first staple legs are slidable within the first apertures, and wherein the first staples each comprise a first height. The instrument assembly further comprises a second staple cartridge positioned within the magazine, wherein the second staple cartridge comprises a second cartridge body comprising a plurality of second apertures and a plurality of second staples each comprising a second staple leg positioned in a second aperture, wherein the second staple legs are slidable within the second apertures, and wherein the second staples comprise a second height which is different than the first height. The instrument assembly can further include a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the first and second staple cartridges into the channel from a staging position.

[0010] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a shaft, a firing member movable along a firing path, a first staple cartridge positioned within the shaft, wherein the first staple cartridge comprises a first cartridge body and a plurality of first staples, and wherein the first staples each comprise a first height, and a second staple cartridge positioned within the shaft, wherein the second staple cartridge comprises a second cartridge body and a plurality of second staples, wherein the second staples each comprise a second height which is different than the first height. The instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance the first and second staple cartridges into the channel.

[0011] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle comprising a trigger, a shaft extending from the handle, a firing member operably coupled with the trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from the trigger to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path, and a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures and a plurality of staples each comprising a staple leg positioned in an aperture, wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The instrument can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a plurality of staple drivers positioned therein, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move the staple drivers between a first position and a second position. The instrument can further comprise a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil when the staples are driven into the second position, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the channel from a staging position, and a biasing member configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the staging position.

[0012] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument assembly can comprise a shaft comprising a removable magazine, a firing member operably couplable with an actuator such that a firing motion can be transferred from the actuator to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path, and a plurality of staple cartridges positionable within the magazine, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures and a plurality of staples each comprising a staple leg positioned in an aperture, and wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The instrument assembly can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, wherein the first jaw comprises a plurality of staple drivers positioned therein, and wherein the firing member is configured to engage the staple drivers and move the staple drivers between a first position and a second position. The instrument assembly can further comprise a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil when the staples are driven into the second position, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the channel from a staging position, and a biasing member configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the staging position.

[0013] In at least one form, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle comprising a trigger, a shaft extending from the handle, and a firing member operably coupled with the trigger such that a firing motion can be transferred from the trigger to the firing member to move the firing member along a firing path. The instrument can further include a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein each staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a plurality of apertures and a plurality of staples each comprising a staple leg positioned in an aperture, wherein the staple legs are slidable within the apertures. The instrument assembly can further comprise a first jaw comprising a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, a second jaw comprising an anvil, wherein the staple legs are configured to contact the anvil, a cartridge driver configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the channel from a staging position, and a biasing member configured to sequentially advance a staple cartridge into the staging position.

[0050] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

[0051] The Applicant of the present application also owns the U.S. Patent Applications identified below which were filed on even date herewith and which are each herein incorporated by reference in their respective entirety:

[0052] STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING RESETTABLE STAPLE DRIVERS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/225,857; now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013-0056521; Inventor: Brett Swensgard;

[0053] STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES STORED THEREIN; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/225,850, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013-0056518; Inventor: Brett Swensgard; and

[0054] CONTINUOUS STAPLING INSTRUMENT, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/225,842; now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013-0056520; Inventor: Brett Swensgard.

[0055] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0056] Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment”, or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment”, or “in an embodiment”, or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0057] The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to a clinician manipulating the handle portion of the surgical instrument. The term “proximal” referring to the portion closest to the clinician and the term “distal” referring to the portion located away from the clinician. It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, and “down” may be 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/or absolute.

[0058] Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, the person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various methods and devices disclosed herein can be used in numerous surgical procedures and applications including, for example, in connection with open surgical procedures. As the present Detailed Description proceeds, those of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed herein can be inserted into a body in any way, such as through a natural orifice, through an incision or puncture hole formed in tissue, etc. The working portions or end effector portions of the instruments can be inserted directly into a patient's body or can be inserted through an access device that has a working channel through which the end effector and elongated shaft of a surgical instrument can be advanced.

[0059] In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of staple cartridges stored therein. In at least one embodiment, the stapling instrument can comprise an end effector configured to receive the staple cartridges in a sequential order. For example, the end effector can comprise a jaw configured to receive a first staple cartridge therein wherein, after the first staple cartridge has been deployed, a second, or subsequent, staple cartridge can be fed into the jaw so that the surgical stapling instrument can be used once again. In at least one such embodiment, the end effector can be attached to a shaft of the surgical stapling instrument and the staple cartridges can be stored in the shaft. In order to sequentially insert the staple cartridges into the end effector, in various embodiments, the stapling instrument can further comprise a reciprocating driver which can advance the staple cartridges into position.

[0060] In various embodiments, referring now to FIG. 1, a stapling instrument, such as stapling instrument 100, for example, can comprise a shaft 110 and an end effector 120. Referring primarily to FIG. 1A, the shaft 110 can comprise a frame 111 and an outer housing 112. In at least one embodiment, the outer housing 112 can entirely, or at least partially, surround the frame 111. In certain embodiments, referring now to FIG. 2, the shaft 110 can comprise a plurality of staple cartridges 130 positioned therein. In at least one embodiment, the outer housing 112 can comprise a detachable portion which can be disassembled from the shaft 110 such that the staple cartridges 130 can be loaded into the shaft 110. In certain embodiments, the shaft 110 can comprise an access port through which the staple cartridges 130 can be loaded therein. In various embodiments, the staple cartridges 130 can be individually loaded into the shaft 110. In certain embodiments, the staple cartridges 130 can be pre-loaded into a magazine which is insertable into and removable from the shaft 110.

[0061] In various embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the surgical instrument 100 can be supplied to a surgeon with a staple cartridge, such as first staple cartridge 130a, for example, already loaded into the end effector 120. In certain other embodiments, the surgical instrument 100 can be supplied to a surgeon without a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector 120. In order to position a staple cartridge within the end effector 120, in various embodiments, the surgical instrument 100 can comprise a cartridge driver, or feeding bar, 140 which can be configured to advance a staple cartridge into the end effector 120. Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 16A, the end effector 120 can comprise a first jaw 121 including a cartridge channel 122 wherein, in at least one such embodiment, the cartridge driver 140 can be configured to advance the first staple cartridge 130a, for example, into the cartridge channel 122. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 16A, the staple cartridge 130a can be positioned proximally with respect to the end effector 120 prior to being advanced into the end effector 120. In such a position, a distal end 141 of the cartridge driver 140 can be positioned within a proximal recess 131 defined in the proximal end of the staple cartridge 130a. In order to advance the staple cartridge 130a into the cartridge channel 122, referring now to FIGS. 17 and 17A, the cartridge driver 140 can be moved distally to engage a sidewall defining the proximal recess 131 and then move the staple cartridge 130a distally into the cartridge channel 122.

[0062] In various embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 16 and 16A, the cartridge channel 122 can comprise one or more support ledges 125, for example, located on opposite sides of the cartridge channel 122 which can be configured to support a staple cartridge, such as staple cartridge 130a, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17A. Similarly, referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the shaft 110 can comprise one or more support ledges 115, for example, located on opposite sides of the shaft frame 111 which can be configured to support one or more staple cartridges, such as the first staple cartridge 130a, a second staple cartridge 130b, a third staple cartridge 130c, a fourth staple cartridge 130d, and/or a fifth staple cartridge 130e, for example. In various embodiments, referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, each staple cartridge 130a-130e, for example, can comprise a cartridge body 132 and a plurality of staples 190 at least partially positioned within the cartridge body 132. Hereinafter, any general reference to a staple cartridge 130 can apply to any one or more of the staple cartridges 130a-130e, for example. In various embodiments, the cartridge body 132 can comprise a first lateral support rail 133 extending along a first side of the cartridge body 132 and a second lateral support rail 133 extending along a second side of the cartridge body 132. In certain embodiments, the lateral support rails 133 of the cartridge body 132 can be supported by the support ledges 115 and/or the support ledges 125 wherein, when a staple cartridge 130 is moved from the shaft 110 to the end effector 120, the staple cartridge 130 can be slid between a position in which it is supported by the support ledges 115 in the shaft 110 to a position in which it is supported by the support ledges 125 in the end effector 120.

[0063] In various embodiments, referring now to FIG. 24, the surgical instrument 100 can further comprise a handle, such as handle 160, for example, wherein the handle 160 can comprise a housing 161 and a pistol grip 162. In certain embodiments, the handle 160 can further comprise a first trigger 163 and a second trigger 164, wherein the first trigger 163 and the second trigger 164 can be pivotably coupled to the housing 161. In certain embodiments, the cartridge driver 140 can be operably coupled to the first trigger 163 such that, when the first trigger 163 is moved toward the pistol grip 162 between an unactuated position (FIG. 24) and an actuated position, the cartridge driver 140 can be moved distally toward the end effector 120. In at least one embodiment, a complete stroke of the first trigger 163 can cause the cartridge driver 140 to completely advance a staple cartridge 130 into the end effector 120, as described above. In at least one such embodiment, the proximal end of the cartridge driver 140 can comprise a rack, for example, wherein the first trigger 163 can comprise a driver configured to engage the rack and displace the cartridge driver 140 distally. In various other embodiments, any suitable drive arrangement can be utilized to operably couple the first trigger 163 and the cartridge driver 140. In various embodiments, the handle 160 can further comprise a lock 165 which can be configured to hold the first trigger 163 in an actuated position. In various other embodiments, the handle 160 can further comprise a first trigger spring which can be configured to bias the first trigger 163 back to its unactuated position (FIG. 24) after the first trigger 163 has been actuated. In certain other embodiments, a return spring can be connected to the cartridge driver 140 and the handle housing 161 wherein, when the first trigger 163 and the cartridge driver 140 have reached the end of their stroke, the drive member can be disengaged from, or be rotated out of engagement with, the cartridge driver 140. In such circumstances, the return spring can bias the cartridge driver 140 proximally back to its unactuated position. In any event, the cartridge driver 140 can be advanced from a proximal, unactuated position to a distal, actuated position in order to advance a staple cartridge 130 into the end effector 120 and then return back to its proximal position once again.

[0064] Once the first staple cartridge 130a has been positioned in the end effector 120, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the end effector 120 can be positioned within a surgical site. In various embodiments, the end effector 120 can further comprise a second jaw 123 which can be pivotably coupled to the first jaw about a pivot 129. In at least one embodiment, the second jaw 123 can be pivoted between an open position (FIG. 2) and a closed position (FIG. 1) by an actuator. In at least one such embodiment, primarily referring now to FIGS. 3, 18, 18A, and 19, the surgical instrument 100 can further comprise a firing member 170 which can be advanced distally in order to engage the second jaw 123 and pivot the second jaw 123 downwardly toward the first jaw 121. In various embodiments, the firing member 170 can comprise a first flange 172 and a second flange 173 wherein the first flange 172 can be configured to engage the first jaw 121 and the second flange 173 can be configured to engage the second jaw 122. More particularly, referring primarily to FIG. 19, the first flange 172 can be configured to slide alongside the outside surface of the first jaw 121 and the second flange 173 can be configured to enter into a slot 103 defined in the second jaw 123 and engage a sidewall of the slot 103 in order to cam the second jaw 123 from an open position (FIG. 18) to a closed position (FIG. 19). In various embodiments, referring again to FIG. 24, the second trigger 164 of the handle 160 can be operably coupled to the firing member 170 such that, when the second trigger 164 is moved toward the pistol grip 162, the firing member 170 can be driven distally, as described above. In at least one embodiment, the proximal end of the firing member 170 can comprise a rack including a plurality of teeth and the second trigger 164 can comprise a gear portion which can be configured to engage the rack teeth and drive the rack and the firing member 170 distally as the second trigger 164 is moved between an unactuated position (FIG. 24) and an actuated position. In at least one such embodiment, a complete actuation of the second trigger 164 can result in a complete actuation of the firing member 170, which is described in greater detail further below.

[0065] As outlined above, the drive member 140 and the firing member 170 can be actuated sequentially and independently of one another by two separate triggers. In certain other embodiments, though, a surgical instrument can comprise a single trigger which, when actuated, can sequentially actuate the drive member 140 and the firing member 170. In either event, the reader will appreciate that the drive member 140 and the firing member 170 can be moved relative to each other during the operation of the surgical instrument 100. For example, when the drive member 140 is advanced distally to position a staple cartridge 130 in the end effector 120, the drive member 140 can move relative to the firing member 170. In certain embodiments, however, referring now to FIG. 18A, the firing member 170 can comprise a distal knife portion 175 which can be positioned intermediate the cartridge channel 122 of the end effector 120 and the frame 111 of the shaft 110 when the firing member 170 is in its unactuated position. Stated another way, the distal knife portion 175 can block the advancement of a staple cartridge 130 as the staple cartridge 130 is advanced between the cartridge channel 122 and the frame 111 unless, as described in greater detail below, the distal knife portion 175 is moved out of the way when the staple cartridge 130 is advanced into the cartridge channel 122.

[0066] In order to move the distal knife portion 175 out of the way, further to the above, the distal knife portion 175 can be moved from its unactuated position (FIG. 18) to a dropped position which is illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 16A. In various embodiments, the firing member 170 can be retracted proximally such that the distal knife portion 175 can contact the frame 111 of the shaft 110 and/or a portion of the first jaw 121 and be displaced downwardly, for example, into a position in which the cartridge body 132 of a staple cartridge 130 can slide over the top of the distal knife portion 175, as described in greater detail below. In at least one such embodiment, referring now to FIG. 4A, the first jaw 121 can comprise at least one declined ramp, or cam, 118 wherein the knife portion 175 can be configured to contact the declined ramp 118 and slide down the declined surface thereof. In certain embodiments, the knife portion 175 can further comprise at least one corresponding declined surface, or follower, 178 which can be configured to engage the at least one declined ramp 118. In at least one such embodiment, the declined ramp 118 and the declined surface 178 can be oriented at the same, or at least substantially the same, angle. In certain embodiments, as a result, the knife portion 175, for example, of the firing member can descend in a direction which is transverse to its firing path, i.e., the path in which firing member 170 is advanced to fire, or deploy, the staples of the staple cartridge 130, as described in greater detail further below. In at least one such embodiment, such a firing path can comprise a longitudinal axis extending between its proximal, unactuated position and its distal, actuated position, for example.

[0067] In various embodiments, referring to FIGS. 4A and 5A, the first jaw 121 can comprise one or more windows, openings, slots, channels, and/or recesses which can be configured to permit the distal knife portion 175 to move from its unactuated position to its dropped position. In at least one embodiment, the first jaw 121 can comprise a recess 119 which can be configured to receive the second flange 173 of the firing member 170 and a window, or opening, 109 which can be configured to permit the first flange 172 of the firing member 170 to at least partially drop downwardly out of the first jaw 121 when the knife portion 175 is moved into its dropped position. At such point, referring again to FIG. 16A, the distal knife portion 175 may no longer obstruct the path of the staple cartridges and, as a result, a staple cartridge 130 can be slid distally past the distal knife portion 175, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17A, as described above. In at least one such embodiment, the top surface of the second flange 173 can be completely recessed within the recess 119, or positioned substantially flush with the top of the recess 119, such that the cartridge body 132 of a staple cartridge 130 can slide thereover. In various embodiments, the top surface of the second flange 173 can be aligned with and/or positioned below the cartridge support surfaces 115 and/or the cartridge support surfaces 125 such that the cartridge body 132 of the staple cartridge 130 can slide thereover without interference, or with little interference, therebetween. Further to the above, referring generally to FIG. 2A, each staple cartridge 130 can comprise a plurality of staple rows which can slide within a first lateral channel 113 alongside a first side of the distal knife portion 175 and a plurality of staple rows which can slide within a second lateral channel 113 alongside a second, or opposite, side of the distal knife portion 175 as the staple cartridge 130 is advanced past the distal knife portion 175 into the cartridge channel 122.

[0068] In various embodiments, further to the above, the firing member 170 can also be selectively engaged with the first trigger 163 such that, when the first trigger 163 is pulled toward the pistol grip 162 to advance a staple cartridge 130 into the end effector 120, as described above, the first trigger 163 can pull the firing member 170 proximally into contact with the declined ramp 118 in order to move the distal knife portion 175 into its descended position. In various embodiments, the first trigger 163 can comprise another drive member which can be configured to engage the rack portion of the firing member 170 and pull the firing member 170 proximally when the first trigger 163 is actuated. Also similar to the above, such a drive member can become disengaged from the firing member 170 when the first trigger 163 has reached the end of its actuation such that the firing member 170 can be subsequently and independently actuated by the second trigger 164. Nonetheless, once the staple cartridge 130 has been slid past the lowered knife portion 175 and the staple cartridge 130 has been sufficiently positioned within the end effector 120, the cartridge driver 140 can be retracted to its unactuated position, as described above, and the firing member 170 can be returned upwardly to its unactuated position. In such circumstances, the firing member 170 can be displaced distally such that the declined surface 178 slides upwardly along the declined ramp 118. In at least one such embodiment, the firing member 170 can be resiliently deflected downwardly when the distal knife portion 175 is moved into its dropped position such that the firing member 170 can resiliently return to its unactuated position. In certain embodiments, the surgical instrument 100 can further comprise a spring which can be configured to bias the firing member 170 into its unactuated position. In any event, once a staple cartridge 130 has been positioned within the end effector 120, and the cartridge driver 140 and the firing member 170 have been returned to their unactuated positions, the firing sequence to deploy the staple cartridge 130 can begin, as described in greater detail further below.

[0069] Turning now to FIG. 19 once again, the firing member 170 can be advanced distally from its unactuated position to engage the second jaw 123 and move the second jaw 123 into a closed position, as described above. In various circumstances, such movement of the firing member 170 can be generated by a partial actuation of the second trigger 164 wherein, if the surgeon desires, the surgeon can release the partially-actuated second trigger 164 to return the firing member 170 back to its unactuated position and allow the second jaw 123 to be returned to its open position. In at least one such embodiment, the end effector 120 can comprise a spring which can be configured to bias the second jaw 123 into its open position as the firing member 170 is being retracted. Furthermore, the handle 160 can further comprise a trigger spring operably engaged with the second trigger 164 which can be configured to return the second trigger 164 to its unactuated position when it is released by the surgeon. In any event, the surgeon can reopen the end effector 120 in order to reposition the jaws 121 and 123 relative to the targeted tissue and, once the surgeon is satisfied with the position of the jaws 121 and 123, the surgeon can actuate the second trigger 164 to close the second jaw 123 once again. As the second jaw 123 is moved into its closed position, the second jaw 123 can contact the tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw 121 and the second jaw 123 and position the tissue against a top, or tissue-contacting, surface 136 of the cartridge body 132. In at least one such embodiment, the tips of the staple may be recessed with respect to, and/or positioned flush with, the tissue-contacting surface 136 such that, when the tissue is compressed against the cartridge body 132, the staple tips do not penetrate, or at least substantially penetrate, the tissue positioned thereagainst. Once the second jaw 123 has been closed and the tissue has been compressed, the firing member 170 can be advanced distally, as described above.

[0070] Upon comparing FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the reader will note that the firing member 170 has been partially advanced within the end effector 120. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the distal end of the firing member 170 can be configured to sequentially engage a plurality of staple drivers 180 positioned within the first jaw 121 in order to lift a plurality of staples 190 toward the second jaw 123. Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the distal portion of the firing member 170 can further comprise one or more lift ramps 171 which can be configured to engage the staple drivers 180 and lift the staple drivers 180 upwardly as the lift ramps 171 pass thereunder. Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 8A, 8B, and 8C, each staple driver 180 can comprise a corresponding inclined surface 181 which can be contacted by a lift ramp 171. In various embodiments, the lift ramps 171 of the firing member and the inclined surfaces 181 of the staple drivers 180 can be inclined at the same, or at least substantially the same, angle. Referring primarily to FIGS. 6 and 7, each staple driver 180 can comprise one or more staple cradles 187 which can each be configured to support a staple 190 thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 19. In at least one embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, each staple 190 can comprise a base 197, which can be positioned within a cradle 187, and one or more staple legs 196 extending upwardly from the base 197. As also illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, at least a portion of the staple legs 196 can be positioned within and/or extend through the cartridge body 132 wherein, as described in greater detail below, the staple drivers 180 can be configured to move the staples 190 relative to the cartridge body 132 as the firing member 170 is advanced.

[0071] Referring primarily to FIG. 20, the lift ramps 171 (FIG. 4) of the firing member 170 can contact the proximal-most staple drivers 180 and begin to lift them, and the staples 190 supported thereon, toward the second jaw 123. As the firing member 170 is progressed even further toward the distal end of the end effector 120, the lift ramps 171 can sequentially contact the staple drivers 180 and lift the staples 190 supported thereon toward the second jaw 123. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the staple drivers 180 can progressively slide up the lift ramps 171 as the lift ramps 171 are slid thereunder. In various embodiments, the cartridge body 132 of the staple cartridge 130 can be held in place by the tissue and the second jaw 123 wherein, as a result, the staple legs 196 of the staples 190 can move relative to the cartridge body 132 when the staples 190 are lifted upwardly. In various embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 13 and 14, the cartridge body 132 can comprise a plurality of guide slots 139 which can each be configured to guide the staple legs 196 as they are moved relative to the cartridge body 132. In at least one embodiment, the guide slots 139 can be configured to closely receive the staple legs 196 such that relative movement therebetween can be limited to the upward movement described herein. As the staple legs 196 are lifted upwardly, the staple legs 196 can emerge from the cartridge body 132 through holes, or apertures, 138 defined in the cartridge body 132. In various embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 13 and 14, the cartridge body 132 can further comprise a plurality of longitudinal rails 134 in which the guide slots 139 and the apertures 138 can be defined. In at least one such embodiment, the longitudinal rails 134 can define three rows of staples 190 on a first side of a longitudinal slot 157 and three rows of staples 190 on a second side of the slot 157, for example.

[0072] As described above, the staple drivers 180 can be displaced upwardly toward the second jaw 123. In various embodiments, referring primarily now to FIG. 4A, the cartridge channel 122 of the first jaw 121 can comprise one or more features configured to guide the staple drivers 180 along a predetermined path as they are moved relative to the cartridge channel 122. In at least one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, each staple driver 180 can comprise a guide rail 182 which can be configured to be slidably received within a guide slot 126 defined in the outer sidewalls of the cartridge channel 122. In at least one such embodiment, the guide slots 126 can each be configured to confine the movement of a staple driver 180 along a straight line, or axis, which can be perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the top surface 136 of the cartridge body 132, for example. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the cartridge channel 122 can further comprise one or more guide channels 127, for example, defined in the inner sidewalls of the cartridge channel 122 which can at least partially comprise cavities configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the drivers 180 therein. In various embodiments, the guide channels 127 can each be configured to confine the movement of a staple driver along a straight line which can be perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the top surface 136 of the cartridge body 132, for example. In embodiments comprising both guide slots 126 and guide channels 127, each driver 180 can be guided on opposite sides thereof, for example.

[0073] In various embodiments, further to the above, the second jaw 123 can comprise an anvil 124 which can be configured to deform the staple legs 196 of the staples 190, as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21. In certain embodiments, the anvil 124 can comprise a plurality of staple pockets, for example, which can each be configured to receive at least one staple leg 196 therein and deform the staple legs 196 to a desired configuration. As the staple legs 196 are being deformed, each staple 190 can capture a portion of the tissue therein and compress the tissue against the top surface 136 of the cartridge body 132. In various embodiments, the staple legs 196 of each staple 190 can be bent inwardly toward one another and hold and/or compress the tissue captured therebetween against a bridge 195 extending between the staple leg apertures 198 defined in the cartridge body 132, for example. In certain embodiments, the staples 190 can be pushed upwardly until the bases 196 of the staples 190 are positioned adjacent to or in contact with the bridges 195. In at least one embodiment, referring primarily to FIG. 14, the cartridge body 132 can comprise a first portion including two or more rows of staples 190 and a second portion including two or more rows of staples 190, for example, wherein the first portion can be connected to the second portion by one or more connectors 156. In at least one such embodiment, the connectors 156 can extend across a longitudinal slot 157 defined in the cartridge body 132 wherein the connectors 156 can be broken and/or incised by the distal knife portion 175 as the firing member 170 is advanced distally to deploy the staples 190 and transect the tissue, as described above. After the connectors 156 have been separated, broken, or incised, the first and second portions of the cartridge body 132 may be unconnected to one another.

[0074] As illustrated in FIG. 21, the firing member 170 can be advanced distally until the distal knife portion 175 of the firing member 170 has reached the distal end of the end effector 120. At such point, in various circumstances, all of the staple drivers 180 will have been moved from their unfired positions to their fired positions, as also illustrated in FIG. 21. In certain other circumstances, the firing member 170 may not be fully advanced within the end effector 120 and only some of the staple drivers 180 may be moved upwardly from their unfired positions. In either event, the firing bar 170 can be retracted to its unactuated position after firing at least some of the staples 190. In various embodiments, referring now to FIG. 22, the distal knife portion 175 of the firing member 170 can be configured to engage the fired staple drivers 180 and return the staple drivers 180 to their unfired position as the firing bar 170 is being retracted. Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, each driver 180 can further comprise a reset ramp 186 which can be engaged by a reset member 174 extending from the firing member 170. More particularly, a reset member 174 of the firing member 170 can enter into a reset cavity 184 defined in the driver 180 such that a bottom drive, or cam, surface 176 extending along the bottom side of the reset member 174 can engage the reset ramp 186 and push the reset ramp 186 downwardly, i.e., toward its unfired position. In various embodiments, the drive surface 176 and the resent ramp 186 can be oriented at the same, or at least substantially the same, angle while, in other embodiments, they may be oriented at different angles. In various other embodiments, a staple driver 180 can include any suitable surface against which the drive surface 176 can apply a force thereto. In at least one embodiment, the reset member 174 can comprise a proximal lead-in portion 174a which, in certain circumstances, can be configured to enter the reset cavity 184 before the drive surface 176 contacts the reset ramp 186. In at least one such embodiment, the proximal lead-in portion 174a can comprise a beveled surface which can initially contact the staple driver 180 and adjust the position of the staple driver 180 before the staple driver 180 is cammed downwardly by the drive surface 176. As discussed above, the movement of each staple driver 180 can be confined to a vertical path, for example, wherein each staple driver 180 can be displaced downwardly along this vertical path as the reset member 174 passes therethrough. By the time that a distal portion 174b of the reset member 174 has exited the reset cavity 184 of the staple driver 180, in various embodiments, the staple driver 180 will have been returned to its unfired position.

[0075] Referring again to FIGS. 22 and 23, the reset members 174 of the firing member 170 can initially reset the distal-most staple drivers 180 and then sequentially reset the remainder of the staple drivers 180 as the firing member 170 is retracted to its unactuated position. As the firing member 170 is being retracted, the second flange 173 of the firing member 170 can exit the longitudinal slot 103 of the second jaw 123 thereby allowing the second jaw 123 to re-open, as discussed above. Once the second jaw 123 has been sufficiently re-opened, as illustrated in FIG. 23, the first jaw 121 can be moved away from the implanted staple cartridge 130a. More particularly, as discussed above, the staples 190 can capture the cartridge body 132 against the tissue such that, when the first jaw 121 is moved away from the tissue, the cartridge body 132 can detach from the first jaw 121 and remain behind with the tissue. The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/097,856, entitled STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STAPLES POSITIONED WITHIN A COMPRESSIBLE PORTION THEREOF, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/894,369, entitled IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A SUPPORT RETAINER, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. After the staple cartridge 130a has been implanted and removed from the staple cartridge channel 122, a second staple cartridge, such as staple cartridge 130b, for example, can be advanced into the staple cartridge channel 122. As described above, the firing member 170 can be retracted from its unactuated position to its lowered position such that the staple cartridge 130b can be advanced distally past the firing member 170 and into the end effector 120 by the cartridge driver 140. At such point, the reloaded surgical stapler 100 can be used once again.

[0076] After the second staple cartridge 130b has been implanted, further to the above, a third staple cartridge 130c can be advanced into the end effector 120. In fact, the illustrated embodiment of surgical stapler 100 can comprise five staple cartridges 130 positioned therein although other embodiments are contemplated which comprise less than five staple cartridges or more than five staple cartridges positioned therein. In any event, a continuous, or sequential, supply of staple cartridges 130 may allow the surgeon to repeatedly use the surgical stapler 100 without having to remove the end effector 120 from the surgical site in order to be reloaded. Stated another way, certain previous surgical staplers required the end effectors thereof to be removed from the surgical site in order to be reloaded, which increased the time needed to complete a surgical procedure. Furthermore, certain previous surgical staplers required a surgeon to remove a spent staple cartridge from the end effectors thereof in order to insert a new staple cartridge, which also increased the time needed to complete a surgical procedure. In any event, certain embodiments are contemplated herein wherein, once the supply of staple cartridges 130 contained within the shaft 110 have been exhausted, additional staple cartridges 130 can be inserted into the shaft 110 of the surgical stapler 100 such that the staple cartridges 130 can be fed into the end effector 120, as described above. Furthermore, at least one embodiment is contemplated in which a staple cartridge 130 can be manually inserted into the staple cartridge channel 122 after the supply of staple cartridges 130 contained within the surgical stapler 100 has been exhausted.

[0077] As described above, the surgical stapler 100 can be configured to supply a continuous, or sequential, number of staple cartridges 130 into the end effector 120. As also described above, the cartridge driver 140 of the surgical stapler 100 can be reciprocated between proximal and distal positions in order to sequentially advance the distal-most staple cartridge 130 contained within the shaft 110 into the cartridge channel 122. Stated another way, the cartridge driver 140 can be configured to advance a staple cartridge 130 from a staging position (FIG. 16) to a loaded position (FIG. 2) and, after the cartridge driver 140 has been returned to its proximal position and the loaded staple cartridge 130 has been implanted, the cartridge driver 140 can advance another staple cartridge 130 from the staging position to the loaded position once again. In at least one such embodiment, the cartridge driver 140 can extend over the proximal-most staple cartridges 130 such that the distal end of the cartridge 140 can directly engage the distal-most staple cartridge 130. In various embodiments, referring again to FIG. 3, the surgical instrument 100 can further comprise a biasing member 150 which can be configured to supply the staging position with another staple cartridge 130 as the staple cartridge 130 that was previously positioned in the staging position is advanced into the cartridge channel 122, as described above. In at least one such embodiment, the biasing member 150 can comprise a distal sled 151 which can be configured to contact the proximal-most cartridge 130 and, in addition, one or more push rods 152 which can be configured to transmit a biasing force to the distal sled 151. In at least one such embodiment, the biasing member 150 can comprise a spring and/or any other suitable resilient member which can be configured to apply a continuous biasing force to the proximal-most cartridge 130. Referring again to FIG. 13, the cartridge body 132 of each staple cartridge 130 can comprise alignment protrusions 137 which can be engaged by the distal sled 151 to transmit the biasing force to the cartridge body 132. In certain embodiments, the alignment protrusions 137 can define the proximal recess 131 wherein the distal sled 151 can be received within the proximal recess 131.

[0078] In various embodiments, further to the above, the biasing force applied to the proximal-most staple cartridge 130 by the biasing member 150 can cause the proximal-most staple cartridge 130 to slide forward and/or abut the adjacent staple cartridge 130 positioned distally thereto. With respect to FIG. 3, the biasing member 150 can apply a biasing force to the staple cartridge 130e which can abut the staple cartridge 130d and transmit the biasing force thereto. Similarly, the staple cartridge 130d can abut the staple cartridge 130c and the staple cartridge 130c can abut the staple cartridge 130b such that the biasing force is transmitted from the biasing member 150 all the way to the second staple cartridge 130b, for example. As the reader will appreciate, the biasing force being applied to the proximal-most staple cartridge 130e by the biasing member 150 tends to push all of the staple cartridges 130 distally and, specifically, tends to push the second staple cartridge 130b distally out of the staging position. In order to hold the second staple cartridge 130b, and/or any other staple cartridge 130, in the staging position until it is advanced distally by the cartridge driver 140, as described above, the shaft frame 111, for example, can comprise one or more holding members which can be configured to releasably hold a staple cartridge 130 in the staging position. Referring now to FIG. 15, the shaft frame 111 can comprise retention arms 107 which can each include a stop 106 configured to block the distal advancement of a staple cartridge 130. More particularly, the stops 106 can be aligned with the support ledges 115 such that cartridge body 132 of the staple cartridge 130 can abut the stops 106 and such that the stops 106 can releasably hold the cartridge body 132 within the support ledges 115. In at least one such embodiment, the stops 106 can define the distal end of the staging position wherein, when a staple cartridge is in contact with the stops 106, the staple cartridge 130 can be held in the staging position. In various embodiments, the retention arms 107 are sufficiently stiff to withstand and resist the biasing force being transmitted through the staple cartridges 130 by the biasing member 150, as described above. In such embodiments, however, the cartridge driver 140 is able to supply a sufficient force to the second cartridge 130b in order to dislodge it from the staging position and advance it distally. In such circumstances, the retention arms 107, and the stops 106 defined therein, can flex or move outwardly such that the second staple cartridge 130b, for example, can pass thereby. As the staple cartridge 130b is moved distally, the retention arms 107 can be engaged with the side rails 133 of the cartridge body 132 and, once the cartridge body 132 has passed by the retention arms 107, the retention arms 107 can resiliently return inwardly.

[0079] Further to the above, the reader will note that, as the second staple cartridge 130b is being advanced distally, the biasing member 150 may act to keep the third staple cartridge 130c in contact with the second staple cartridge 130b. In such circumstances, the retention arms 107 may resiliently return from their expanded position to catch the third staple cartridge 130c and hold the staple cartridge 130c in the staging position. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge body 132 of each staple cartridge may comprise a divot or recess, for example, defined in the distal ends of the side rails 133 which can provide a suitable catch for the resilient arms 107 to engage and stop a staple cartridge 130 from being prematurely advanced out of the staging position. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the side rails 133 of each cartridge body 132 may also comprise a proximal divot or recess, for example, which can allow the resilient arms 107 to resiliently return to their unflexed state prior to the subsequent staple cartridge 130 reaching its fully staged position and thereby stop the subsequent staple cartridge 130 from being advanced past the staging position. In any event, once the second staple cartridge 130b has been positioned in the end effector 120 by the cartridge driver 140, the cartridge driver 140 can be retracted to its proximal, unactuated position such that the distal end 141 of the cartridge driver 140 is positioned within the distal recess 131 of the third staple cartridge 131c. After the second cartridge 130b has been deployed, the cartridge driver 140 can advance the third staple cartridge 130c from the staging position into the end effector 120 as the biasing member 150 advances the fourth staple cartridge 130d into the staging position. Similarly, after the third cartridge 130c has been deployed, the cartridge driver 140 can advance the fourth staple cartridge 130d from the staging position into the end effector 120 as the biasing member 150 advances the fifth staple cartridge 130e into the staging position, and so forth.

[0080] As described above, a staple cartridge 130 can be slid into the end effector 120 such that the staples 190 of the staple cartridge 130 can be deployed, or fired, by the staple drivers 180. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge 130 can be advanced to a predetermined position in which the bases 197 of the staples 190 are aligned with the staple cradles 187 of the staple drivers 180. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge channel 122 can comprise a forward stop, or datum, against which the staple cartridge 130 can be positioned by the cartridge driver 140 wherein, when the cartridge body 132 is positioned against this datum, the bases 197 of the staples 190 may be aligned with the staple cradles 187. In various embodiments, the support ledges 125 defined in the sides of the cartridge channel 122 and/or the support ledges 115 defined in the shaft frame 111, for example, can define channels, slots, and/or recesses configured to closely receive the support rails 133. In at least one such embodiment, referring primarily to FIG. 14, the support ledges 115, and/or the support ledges 125, can comprise an at least partially enclosed trough which can prohibit, or at least limit, the upward movement of the cartridge body 132 relative to the shaft frame 111, and/or cartridge channel 122. In various embodiments, the troughs comprising the support ledges 125 can be configured to releasably hold the cartridge body 132 in position until the first jaw 121 is moved away from the implanted cartridge body 132, as described above. In at least one such embodiment, the cartridge body 132 can be configured to flex as the first jaw 121 is pulled away such that that support rails 133 can pop or snap out of the support ledge troughs. In various embodiments, the cartridge body 132 can be comprised of at least one bioabsorbable, biocompatible, and/or biostable plastic material, for example, which is sufficiently flexible to flex as described above.

[0081] As described above, the surgical instrument 100 can comprise a plurality of staple cartridges 130a-130e, for example, stored therein which can be consecutively or sequentially supplied to the end effector 120 thereof. In various embodiments, the staple cartridges 130a-130e, for example, can be identical, or at least substantially identical. In at least one embodiment, the staples 190 of the staple cartridges 130a-130e can each be comprised of a wire having the same, or at least substantially the same, diameter, for example. In various embodiments, this wire can be comprised of at least one metal, such as stainless steel and/or titanium, for example. The staples 190 of staple cartridges 130a-130e can also be comprised of wires having the same, or at least substantially the same, length, for example. In various embodiments, the staples 190 of staple cartridges 130a-130e can have the same, or at least substantially the same, overall unformed height. In at least one such embodiment, the overall unformed height of a staple 190 can be defined as the distance between the bottom surface of its base 197 and the tips of its staple legs 196. In at least one embodiment, the staple legs 196 can have the same, or at least substantially the same, length, i.e., the distance between the top surface of the staple base 197 and the tips of the staple legs 196. In any event, the surgical stapler 100 can be configured to supply consecutive identical, or nearly identical, staple cartridges 130 to the end effector 120, in various embodiments.

[0082] In various other embodiments, one or more of the staple cartridges stored within the surgical stapler 100 can be different than the other staple cartridges stored within the surgical stapler 100 in at least one regard. In at least one such embodiment, one or more of the staple cartridges stored within the surgical stapler 100 can comprise staples having at least one different diameter. For example, a first staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of first staples comprised of wires having a first diameter, a second staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of second staples comprised of wires having a second diameter, and a third staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of third staples comprised of wires having a third diameter, wherein the first diameter can be different than the second diameter, the second diameter can be different than the third diameter, and the first diameter can be different than the third diameter. In certain embodiments, a staple cartridge can comprise a first row of staples comprised of wires having a first diameter, a second row of staples comprised of wires having a second diameter, and/or a third row of staples comprised of wires having a third diameter, wherein the first diameter can be different than the second diameter, the second diameter can be different than the third diameter, and the first diameter can be different than the third diameter, for example. In certain embodiments, one or more of the staple cartridges stored within the surgical stapler 100 can comprise staples having at least one different unformed height. For example, a first staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of first staples having a first height, a second staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of second staples having a second height, and a third staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of third staples having a third height, wherein the first height can be different than the second height, the second height can be different than the third height, and the first height can be different than the third height. In certain embodiments, a staple cartridge can comprise a first row of staples having a first height, a second row of staples having a second height, and/or a third row of staples having a third height, wherein the first height can be different than the second height, the second height can be different than the third height, and the first height can be different than the third height, for example. In certain embodiments, one or more of the staple cartridges stored within the surgical stapler 100 can comprise staples having at least one different unformed leg length. For example, a first staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of first staples having a first leg length, a second staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of second staples having a second leg length, and a third staple cartridge stored within the surgical stapler can comprise a plurality of third staples having a third leg length, wherein the first leg length can be different than the second leg length, the second leg length can be different than the third leg length, and the first leg length can be different than the third leg length. In certain embodiments, a staple cartridge can comprise a first row of staples having a first leg length, a second row of staples having a second leg length, and/or a third row of staples having a third leg length, wherein the first leg length can be different than the second leg length, the second leg length can be different than the third leg length, and the first leg length can be different than the third leg length, for example.

[0083] In various embodiments, further to the above, the staple cartridges 130 contained within the surgical stapling instrument can comprise different cartridge bodies. For example, the cartridge body of a first staple cartridge 130 can have a first thickness while the cartridge body of a second staple cartridge 130 can have a second thickness which is different than the first thickness. In at least one such embodiment, the second thickness can be thicker than the first thickness, for example. In certain embodiments, the cartridge body of a first staple cartridge 130 can be comprised of a first material while the cartridge body of a second staple cartridge 130 can be comprised of a second material which is different than the first material. In at least one such embodiment, the second material can be more flexible than the first material, for example.

[0084] In various embodiments, the different staple cartridges can be loaded into the shaft 110 in a predetermined order such that the staple cartridges are utilized according to a predetermined sequence. In at least one such embodiment, a surgical procedure may require the surgical instrument to staple and transect a first portion of stomach tissue having a first thickness and then a second portion of stomach tissue having a thicker thickness wherein, in such circumstances, the first staple cartridge can comprise staples having a shorter unformed height than the staples contained within the second staple cartridge, for example. Such circumstances may arise when performing a Rouen-Y surgical technique, for example.

[0085] In various alternative embodiments, further to the above and referring again to FIGS. 9 and 10, the top surfaces of reset members 174 can comprise drive surfaces which can be configured to engage the staple drivers 180. In at least one such embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, each staple driver 180 can comprise a drive surface 183 which can be engaged by the top surfaces of the reset members 174 as the firing member 170 is advanced distally in order to displace the staple drivers 180, and the staples 190 supported thereon, upwardly. In at least one embodiment, the top surfaces of the reset members 174 can define inclined lifting surfaces which can be parallel, or at least substantially parallel, to the bottom lowering surfaces 176. In certain embodiments, as a result of the above, the reset members 174 can comprise a ramp which includes a top surface which lifts the staple drivers 180 and a bottom surface which lowers the staple drivers 180. In various embodiments, the reset members 174 can be configured such that the ends 174a and 174b of each reset member 174 are positioned distally with respect to the cutting edge of the distal knife portion 175. In at least one such embodiment, the staples can be formed to their fully fired height, or at least substantially fully fired height, before the cutting edge passes through and incises the stapled portion of the tissue. In various embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 9 and 10, the distal knife portion 175 of the firing member 170 can comprise a bottom surface 177 which can be configured to slide along a bottom surface of the staple cartridge channel 122. In at least one such embodiment, the first jaw 121 can further comprise a lead-in 108 (FIG. 4A) including a radiused and/or beveled edge, for example, which can be configured to guide the bottom surface 177 into the cartridge channel 122, especially after the distal knife portion 175 has been moved into its lowered position, for example.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

[0089] While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.