STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE
A staple cartridge is disclosed which includes a cartridge body and a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The staples can include at least one barb extending therefrom. A first group of the staples can have a first unformed height and a second group of the staples can have a second unformed height. A first group of the staples can have a first formed height and a second group of the staples can have a second formed height.
1 . An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a plurality of first staples removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises:
a first base comprising a first bottom surface;
a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue, and wherein each said first leg comprises at least one barb extending therefrom; and
a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip;
a plurality of second staples removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises:
a second base comprising a second bottom surface;
a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and
a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip;
an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first deformed height and said second staples to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height;
a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are configured to lift said first staples and said second staples toward said anvil; and
a firing member configured to lift said staple drivers toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge.
2 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said second preformed height is different than said first preformed height.
3 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge comprises a deck configured to support tissue, wherein said deck comprises:
a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface;
a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface; and
a wall defined between said first surface and said second surface.
4 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge comprises a deck configured to support tissue, wherein said deck comprises:
a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface; and
a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface, and wherein said first surface is positioned vertically above said second surface.
5 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a first surface comprising a first longitudinal row of first forming pockets, wherein said first staple cavities can be aligned with said first forming pockets;
a second surface comprising a second longitudinal row of second forming pockets, wherein said second staple cavities can be aligned with said second forming pockets; and
a wall extending between said first surface and said second surface.
6 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a deck configured to support tissue, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said firing member define a distance therebetween configured to establish a distance between said anvil and said deck.
7 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of drivers comprises a first longitudinal row of staple supports configured to support said first staples and a second longitudinal row of staple supports configured to support said second staples, wherein said drivers are movable between an unlifted position and a lifted position, and wherein one of said first longitudinal row of staple supports and said second longitudinal row of staple supports is positioned closer to said anvil when said drivers are in said unlifted position.
8 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said firing member comprises a knife edge.
9 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said firing member comprises at least one inclined surface configured to lift said drivers toward said anvil.
10 . An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a first staple removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said first staple comprises:
a first base comprising a first bottom surface;
a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein at least one of said first legs comprises at least one barb extending therefrom, and wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue; and
a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip;
a second staple removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said second staple comprises:
a second base comprising a second bottom surface;
a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and
a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip;
an anvil configured to deform said first staple to a first deformed height and said second staple to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height comprises the overall height of the first staple in its fully deformed configuration, and wherein said second deformed height comprises the height of the second staple in its fully deformed configuration;
a staple driver system configured to lift said first staple and said second staple toward said anvil; and
a firing member configured to lift said staple driver system toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge.
11 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said second preformed height is different than said first preformed height.
12 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said cartridge comprises a deck configured to support tissue, wherein said deck comprises:
a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface;
a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface; and
a wall defined between said first surface and said second surface.
13 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said cartridge comprises a deck configured to support tissue, wherein said deck comprises:
a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface; and
a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface, and wherein said first surface is positioned vertically above said second surface.
14 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said anvil comprises:
a first surface comprising a first longitudinal row of first forming pockets, wherein said first staple cavities can be aligned with said first forming pockets;
a second surface comprising a second longitudinal row of second forming pockets, wherein said second staple cavities can be aligned with said second forming pockets; and
a wall extending between said first surface and said second surface.
15 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a deck configured to support tissue, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said firing member define a distance therebetween configured to establish a distance between said anvil and said deck.
16 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said firing member comprises a knife edge.
17 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein said firing member comprises at least one inclined surface configured to lift said drivers toward said anvil.
18 . An end effector for fastening tissue, comprising:
a cartridge comprising a plurality of staple cavities, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are arranged in a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, and a deck configured to support tissue, and wherein said deck comprises:
a first surface, wherein said first longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said first surface;
a second surface, wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities is defined in said second surface; and
a wall defined between said first surface and said second surface;
a plurality of first staples removably stored within said first longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said first staple comprises:
a first base comprising a first bottom surface;
a pair of first legs extending from said first base, wherein each said first leg comprises at least one barb extending therefrom, and wherein each said first leg comprises a first tip configured to pierce tissue; and
a first preformed height measured between said first bottom surface and said first tip;
a plurality of second staples removably stored within said second longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein each said second staple comprises:
a second base comprising a second bottom surface;
a pair of second legs extending from said second base, wherein each said second leg comprises a second tip configured to pierce tissue; and
a second preformed height measured between said second bottom surface and said second tip, wherein said second preformed height is different than said first preformed height;
an anvil configured to deform said first staples to a first deformed height and said second staples to a second deformed height, wherein said first deformed height is different than said second deformed height;
a plurality of staple drivers, wherein said staple drivers are configured to lift said first staples and said second staples toward said anvil; and
a firing member configured to lift said staple drivers toward said anvil, wherein said firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage said anvil and a second portion configured to engage said cartridge, and wherein said firing member is configured to relatively position said anvil and said cartridge.