METHOD OF DEFORMING STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THE SAME SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT

1 . A method of using a surgical instrument system comprising the steps of:

obtaining a surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector comprises:

an anvil jaw including a cam surface and an array of forming pockets; and

a cartridge jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a closure member configured to engage the cam surface of the anvil jaw; and

a firing member;

inserting a first staple cartridge into the cartridge jaw when a staple cartridge is not in the cartridge jaw, wherein the first staple cartridge comprises a plurality of first staples stored therein, and wherein the first staples are formed from wire;

closing the end effector by moving the closure member through a closure stroke to engage the cam surface of the anvil jaw;

moving the firing member through a firing stroke to eject the first staples from the first staple cartridge;

deforming the first staples against the forming pockets;

inserting a second staple cartridge into the cartridge jaw when the first staple cartridge is not in the cartridge jaw, wherein the second staple cartridge comprises a plurality of second staples stored therein, and wherein the second staples are stamped from at least one sheet of material;

closing the end effector by moving the closure member through a closure stroke to engage the cam surface of the anvil jaw;

moving the firing member through a firing stroke to eject the second staples from the second staple cartridge; and

deforming the second staples against the forming pockets.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first staples have a first unformed height, wherein the second staples have a second unformed height, and wherein the first unformed height and the second unformed height are the same.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said step of deforming the first staples and said step of deforming the second staples comprises deforming the first staples and the second staples to the same formed height.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said step of deforming the first staples and said step of deforming the second staples comprises deforming the first staples and the second staples to different formed heights.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first staples have a first unformed height, wherein the second staples have a second unformed height, and wherein the first unformed height and the second unformed height are different.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of deforming the first staples and said step of deforming the second staples comprises deforming the first staples and the second staples to the same formed height.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of deforming the first staples and said step of deforming the second staples comprises deforming the first staples and the second staples to different formed heights.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of moving the firing member comprise controlling the position of the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise moving the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise moving the cartridge jaw relative to the anvil jaw.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise pivoting the cartridge jaw relative to the anvil jaw.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise rotating and translating the cartridge jaw relative to the anvil jaw.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise pivoting the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of closing the end effector comprise rotating and translating the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a tube configured to partially surround the anvil jaw and the cartridge jaw.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage the anvil jaw and a second cam configured to engage the cartridge jaw.

17 . A method of using a surgical instrument system comprising the steps of:

obtaining a surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector comprises:

an anvil jaw including an array of forming pockets; and

a cartridge jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a closure member comprising a cam surface configured to engage the end effector; and

a firing member;

inserting a first staple cartridge into the cartridge jaw, wherein the first staple cartridge comprises a plurality of first staples stored therein;

moving the closure member through a first closure stroke to cam the end effector into its closed configuration;

moving the firing member through a first firing stroke to eject the first staples from the first staple cartridge;

deforming the first staples with the forming pockets;

removing the first staple cartridge from the cartridge jaw after deforming the first staples;

inserting a second staple cartridge into the cartridge jaw, wherein the second staple cartridge comprises a plurality of second staples stored therein, and wherein the second staples have a different overall configuration than the first staples;

moving the closure member through another closure stroke to cam the end effector into its closed configuration;

moving the firing member through another firing stroke to eject the second staples from the second staple cartridge; and

deforming the second staples with the forming pockets.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first staples are comprised of wire, and wherein the second staples are stamped from at least one sheet of metal.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first staples have a first unformed height and the second staples have a second unformed height, and wherein the first unformed height and the second unformed height are the same.

20 . A method of providing a surgical instrument system comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector comprises:

an anvil jaw including a cam surface and an array of forming pockets; and

a cartridge jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge;

a closure member configured to engage the cam surface of the anvil jaw and place the end effector into the closed configuration during a closing stroke; and

a firing member configured to perform a firing stroke;

providing a first staple cartridge configured to be removably inserted into the cartridge jaw, wherein the first staple cartridge comprises a plurality of first staples removably stored therein which are deformable by the forming pockets, wherein the first staples comprise a first configuration; and

providing a second staple cartridge configured to be removably inserted into the cartridge jaw, wherein the second staple cartridge comprises a plurality of second staples removably stored therein which are deformable by the forming pockets, and wherein the second staples comprise a second configuration which is different than the first configuration.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first configuration comprises a first longitudinal width, wherein the second configuration comprises a second longitudinal width, and wherein the first longitudinal width is different than the second longitudinal width.