Method of Fabricating a Stiff Anvil for a Surgical Instrument

1 . A method of manufacturing a surgical apparatus, comprising:

fabricating an anvil comprising an insert composed of a first material, said insert located within a cavity in a body composed of a second material, wherein said first material and said second material have different properties.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first material is high-modulus and said second material is high-strength.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fabricating comprises

fabricating said insert; and then

metal injection molding said body about at least part of said insert.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fabricating comprises

fabricating said body; and then

metal injection molding said into said cavity in said body.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fabricating comprises

fabricating said insert; and then

insert molding said body about at least part of said insert.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fabricating comprises

fabricating said insert;

separately fabricating said body;

inserting said insert into said cavity; and

fixing said insert to said body.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first material is tungsten carbide and wherein said second material is 17-4 PH stainless steel.

8 . A surgical apparatus, comprising:

an anvil, comprising

van upper layer composed of a first material; and

a lower layer composed of a second material different from said first material,

said lower layer fixed to said upper layer.

9 . The surgical apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said first material is high-modulus and said second material is high-strength.

10 . The surgical apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said first material is high-strength and said second material is high-modulus.

11 . The surgical apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each said layer extends along substantially all of the entire length and width of said anvil.