Cartridge for applying varying amounts of tissue compression

摘要

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.

主权项

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an anvil including an anvil surface; and a cartridge adapted to connect to a jaw member of the surgical instrument including a first section having a first cartridge surface and a second section having a second cartridge surface, each of the first cartridge surface and the second cartridge surface including retention slots for retention of surgical fasteners therein, the first section and the second section individually installable in the cartridge such that in a first installed configuration, the first section is positionable on the cartridge proximal to the second section, and in a second installed configuration, the second section is positionable on the cartridge proximal to the first section, wherein the anvil and the cartridge define a first gap between the first cartridge surface and the anvil surface, and wherein the anvil and the cartridge define a second gap between the second cartridge surface and the anvil surface, the first gap different from the second gap.