Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staples sizes

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 stapler comprising:
a tubular body portion; a cartridge assembly disposed at a distal end of the tubular body portion and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the cartridge assembly including a distal face having a configuration that varies in height defined by outer and inner surfaces arranged in descending order from the outer surface to the inner surface, the outer and inner surfaces lying in respective outer and inner planes that are disposed parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined though the cartridge assembly, the outer and inner surfaces defined in the distal face of the cartridge assembly having respective annular arrays of outer and inner slots defined therethrough and being configured to house respective outer and inner annular arrays of staples; and an anvil member disposed at the distal end of the tubular body portion and positioned opposite the cartridge assembly, the anvil member including a proximal face having a corresponding configuration that varies in height defined by outer and inner surfaces arranged in descending order from the outer surface to the inner surface, the outer and inner surfaces defined in the proximal face of the anvil member and adapted to clinch the staples in tissue upon expulsion of the staples from the cartridge assembly such that clinched tissue forms a generally funnel shape, wherein the generally funnel shape of the clinched tissue is adapted to receive the anvil member therethrough.