Stapler device that forms staples from various cartridges having different row patterns

1 . A surgical stapling system, comprising:

a stapler including a first jaw having a tissue clamping surface and a second jaw operable to receive interchangeable staple cartridges having different staple patterns, the first and second jaws relatively pivotable between an open position and a closed position;

a first staple cartridge having a first staple pattern; and

a second staple cartridge having a second staple pattern, the second staple pattern being different from the first staple pattern,

wherein the stapler is configured to perform a first firing stroke to form a first set of staples using the first staple cartridge and a second firing stroke to form a second set of staples using the second staple cartridge,

wherein the first set of staples are formed by the first staple cartridge without the staples of the first set of staples contacting the first jaw, and wherein the second set of staples are formed by the second staple cartridge without the staples of the second set of staples contacting the first jaw.

2 . The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of staples and the second set of staples are formed by staple forming features contained in staple pockets of the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge, respectively.

3 . The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , wherein the tissue clamping surface of the first jaw is flat or pocketless.

4 . The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , wherein the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern includes rows of staple pockets configured to receive staples.

5 . The surgical stapling system of claim 4 , wherein the tissue clamping surface of the first jaw is flat or pocketless, wherein the flat or pocketless tissue clamping surface of the first jaw accommodates the rows of staple pockets of both the first and second staple patterns of the first and second staple cartridges.

6 . The surgical stapling system of claim 5 , wherein during the first firing stroke and the second firing stroke, the staples in the rows of staple pockets of the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern avoid contact with the flat or pocketless tissue clamping surface of the first jaw.

7 . The surgical stapling system of claim 4 , wherein the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern define staple crown orientations within respective rows of staple pockets.

8 . The surgical stapling system of claim 4 , wherein the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern define spacing of staple pockets within respective rows of staple pockets.

9 . The surgical stapling system of claim 4 , wherein the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern define lateral spacing between respective rows of staple pockets.

10 . The surgical stapling system of claim 4 , wherein the first staple pattern and the second staple pattern define a number of staple pockets within respective rows of staple pockets.

11 . A staple cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body including:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a tissue supporting deck; and

a plurality of rows of staple cavities defined in the deck, wherein the staple cavities are configured to hold unformed staples,

wherein the unformed staples are configured to be deformed into formed staples by a staple forming feature in the staple cavities to form a first staple pattern,

wherein the staple cartridge is configured to be insertable into a channel of a first jaw of an end effector for assembly therewith and to be fired during a firing stroke of the end effector to form the first staple pattern without the unformed staples contacting a second jaw of the end effector.

12 . The staple cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the staple forming feature is configured to bend or curl the unformed staples during the firing stroke.

13 . The staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the staple forming feature bends or curls the unformed staples while avoiding contact with the second jaw.

14 . The staple cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the first staple pattern defines staple crown orientations within respective rows of staple cavities.

15 . The staple cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the first staple pattern defines spacing of staple cavities within respective rows of staple cavities or lateral spacing between respective rows of staple cavities.

16 . The staple cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the first staple pattern defines a number of staple cavities within respective rows of staple cavities.

17 . A method of using a stapler, the stapler including a first jaw having a tissue clamping surface and a second jaw operable to receive interchangeable staple cartridges having different staple patterns, the first and second jaws relatively pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the method comprising:

inserting a first staple cartridge into the second jaw of the stapler, the first staple cartridge having a first staple pattern;

firing the stapler to form a first set of staples using the first staple cartridge;

removing the first staple cartridge from the second jaw of the stapler;

inserting a second staple cartridge into the second jaw of the stapler, the second staple cartridge having a second staple pattern different from the first staple pattern; and

firing the stapler to form a second set of staples using the second staple cartridge,

wherein the first set of staples are formed by the first staple cartridge without the first set of staples contacting the first jaw, and wherein the second set of staples are formed by the second staple cartridge without the second set of staples contacting the first jaw.