Surgical stapling apparatus

1. A disposable surgical stapling unit configured for use with an actuation device that has an elongated shaft assembly that defines an elongate axis, the disposable surgical stapling unit comprising:

a housing assembly configured for removable attachment to the elongated shaft assembly of the actuation device;

a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

a drive member operably supported within said staple cartridge carrier, said drive member including a cutting edge configured to cut tissue and a proximal end configured for operable engagement with a control member that is operably supported within the elongated shaft assembly; and

first and second articulation joints operably supported between the housing assembly and the staple cartridge carrier for selectively articulating the staple cartridge carrier about multiple articulation axes relative to the elongate axis of the elongated shaft assembly when the housing assembly is operably coupled thereto.

2. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 1 wherein said first and second articulation joints are longitudinally spaced from each other.

3. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second articulation joints is controlled by at least one flexible articulation member operably supported within said housing assembly and configured to interface with a corresponding articulation control member operably supported in the elongated shaft assembly for applying articulation control motions thereto from the actuation device.

4. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 3 wherein said at least one flexible articulation member comprises:

a first flexible articulation member operably interacting with one of said first and second articulation joints and configured for operable engagement with a first articulation control member within the elongated shaft assembly to apply a first articulation motion thereto; and

a second flexible articulation member operably interacting with the one of said first and second articulation joints and configured for operable engagement with a second articulation control member within the elongated shaft assembly to apply another articulation motion thereto.

5. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 3 wherein said at least one flexible articulation member is attached to said first articulation joint and wherein said second articulation joint is a passive articulation joint.

6. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 5 wherein said second articulation joint comprises:

a joint body having a centrally disposed spine defined by a plurality of kerfs and ribs formed on each lateral side of said joint body;

a first articulation plate supported within said joint body on a first lateral side thereof; and

a second articulation plate supported within said joint body on a second lateral side thereof.

7. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 6 wherein said first and second articulation plates are fabricated from substantially inelastic material.

8. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second articulation joints facilitates selective articulation about a corresponding articulation axis that is substantially transverse to the elongate axis.

9. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 1 further comprising an anvil movably supported relative to said staple cartridge carrier and being selectively movable relative thereto upon application of anvil control motions thereto by the actuation device.

10. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 1 wherein the elongated shaft assembly is operably coupled to a handle assembly.

11. A disposable surgical stapling unit configured for use with an actuation device that has an elongated shaft assembly that defines an elongate axis, the disposable surgical stapling unit comprising:

a staple cartridge carrier operably supporting a surgical staple cartridge therein; and

a body portion configured for operable attachment to the elongated shaft assembly to receive a plurality of control motions from the actuation device, said body portion comprising:

first and second articulation joints serially supported in said body portion for selectively articulating the staple cartridge carrier about multiple articulation axes relative to the elongate axis of the elongated shaft assembly when the body portion is operably coupled thereto; and

a drive member operably supported within said body potion and including a tissue cutting edge, said drive member configured for longitudinal movement relative to said body portion in response to drive motions applied thereto from a drive control member that is operably supported within the elongated shaft assembly.

12. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second articulation joints is controlled by at least one flexible articulation member operably supported within said body portion and configured to interface with a corresponding articulation control member operably supported in the elongated shaft assembly for applying articulation control motions thereto from the actuation device.

13. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 12 wherein said at least one flexible articulation member comprises:

a first flexible articulation member operably interacting with one of said first and second articulation joints and configured for operable engagement with a first articulation control member within the elongated shaft assembly to apply a first articulation motion thereto; and

a second flexible articulation member operably interacting with one of said first and second articulation joints and configured for operable engagement with a second articulation control member within the elongated shaft assembly to apply another articulation motion thereto.

14. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 12 wherein said at least one flexible articulation member is attached to said first articulation joint and wherein said second articulation joint is a passive articulation joint.

15. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 14 wherein said second articulation joint comprises:

a joint body portion having a centrally disposed spine defined by a plurality of kerfs and ribs formed on each lateral side of said joint body;

a first articulation plate supported within said joint body on a first lateral side thereof; and

a second articulation plate supported within said joint body on a second lateral side thereof.

16. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 15 wherein said first and second articulation plates are fabricated from substantially inelastic material.

17. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second articulation joints facilitates a selective articulation about an articulation axis that is substantially transverse to the elongate axis.

18. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 11 further comprising an anvil movably supported relative to said staple cartridge carrier and being selectively movable relative thereto upon application of anvil control motions thereto by the actuation device.

19. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 11 wherein the elongated shaft assembly is operably coupled to a handle assembly.

20. The disposable surgical stapling unit of claim 19 wherein the handle assembly is manually actuatable.