Surgical method for stapling tissue

1. A method for surgically stapling tissue, comprising:

providing a surgical stapler comprising

at least one staple,

a pusher configured to hold said at least one staple,

a splay arm movable relative to said pusher, said splay arm including two spaced-apart splay tips, and

a driver movable relative to said pusher;

splaying at least one said staple by plastically deforming the distalmost said staple against said splay tips; and

after said splaying, closing at least one said staple by plastically deforming the distalmost said staple against said splay tips.

2. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; further comprising advancing said staple distally after said splaying and before said closing.

3. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said staple has at least two tines each having a free end, and wherein said splaying orients said free ends of said tines generally distally.

4. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said splaying is performed by moving at least one of said splay arm and said pusher relative to the another.

5. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein each said staple includes at least two inflection points therein; wherein said splay tips move laterally outward during said splaying to contact and remain in contact with said inflection points.

6. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein the driver comprises at least two spaced-apart prongs; and wherein said closing comprises first contacting the distalmost said staple with the distal ends of said prongs, then contacting the distalmost said staple with an inner surface of each said prong.

7. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; further comprising passively releasing the distalmost said staple after said closing.

8. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said surgical stapler includes a plurality of said staples; further comprising, after said closing, advancing the remainder of said staples distally, then repeating said splaying and said closing.

9. A method for surgically stapling tissue, comprising:

providing a surgical stapler comprising

a plurality of staples,

a pusher configured to hold said staples,

a splay arm movable relative to said pusher,

a driver movable relative to said pusher,

wherein said pusher, said splay arm and said driver are initially in a first configuration relative to one another;

splaying at least one said staple to a splayed state;

after said splaying, closing at least one said splayed staple, after which said pusher, said splay arm and said driver are in a second configuration relative to one another; and

resetting said stapler to said first configuration of said pusher, said splay arm and said driver;

wherein said splaying and said closing each plastically deform at least one said staple.

10. The method of claim 9 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; further comprising repeating splaying and closing after said resetting.

11. The method of claim 9 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said splaying is performed by advancing said splay arm and said pusher distally, wherein said pusher is advanced faster than said splay arm.

12. The method of claim 11 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said resetting includes retracting said pusher and said splay arm proximally.

13. The method of claim 12 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said surgical stapler includes an anti-backup rack substantially fixed relative to said pusher and said driver; further comprising holding at least one staple substantially stationary with said anti-backup rack during said retracting said pusher.

14. The method of claim 13 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said resetting includes retracting said driver proximally.

15. The method of claim 9 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said closing is performed by holding said splay arm and said pusher substantially stationary and advancing said driver distally.

16. The method of claim 9 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said splay arm further comprises two spaced-apart splay tips; and wherein said splaying comprises plastically deforming the distalmost said staple against said splay tips.

17. The method of claim 9 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said splay arm further comprises two spaced-apart splay tips; and wherein said closing comprises plastically deforming the distalmost said staple against said splay tips.