STAPLING END EFFECTOR CONFIGURED TO COMPENSATE FOR AN UNEVEN GAP BETWEEN A FIRST JAW AND A SECOND JAW

摘要

A staple cartridge disclosed herein comprises a cartridge body and staples removably stored therein. The staple cartridge further comprises a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive the staples toward an anvil and a firing system movable toward a distal end of the cartridge body to sequentially move the staple drivers toward their fired positions. The staple drivers comprise a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface and a first staple support surface, wherein a first driver distance is defined between the first bottom drive surface and the first staple support surface, and a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface and a second staple support surface, wherein a second driver distance is defined between the second bottom drive surface and the second support surface which is different than the first driver distance.

主权项

1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;a distal end;a deck;a longitudinal slot defined in said deck; anda longitudinal row of staple cavities; staples removably stored in said longitudinal row of staple cavities; a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said staples toward the anvil; a firing system movable toward said distal end to sequentially move said staple drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises:
a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a first support surface configured to drive a first said staple toward the anvil, wherein a first driver distance is defined between said first bottom drive surface and said first support surface; anda second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a second support surface configured to drive a second said staple toward the anvil, wherein a second driver distance is defined between said second bottom drive surface and said second support surface, and wherein said second driver distance is different than said first driver distance.