STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS

1 . An end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a staple comprising a leg; and

an anvil comprising a tissue compression surface, wherein a plurality of pockets are defined in said tissue compression surface, wherein said plurality of pockets comprises a pocket comprising a cup configured to form said leg, and wherein said cup comprises a boundary surface comprising:

a perimeter;

a depth profile defining the depth of said cup along the length of said cup;

a first curved sidewall extending from said perimeter toward said depth profile; and

a second curved sidewall extending from said perimeter toward said depth profile, wherein said first curved sidewall and said second curved sidewall intersect said perimeter at a constant angle along a majority of the length of said cup.

2 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said boundary surface is devoid of flat surfaces.

3 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said constant angle is between 55 degrees and 80 degrees.

4 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein said boundary surface further comprises a bottom surface intermediate said first curved sidewall and said second curved sidewall, wherein said first curved sidewall comprises a first radius of curvature at a first cross-sectional location, wherein said bottom surface comprises a second radius of curvature at said first cross-sectional location, and wherein said second radius of curvature is different than said first radius of curvature.

5 . The end effector of claim 4 , wherein said bottom surface comprises a variable radius of curvature along the length thereof.

6 . An end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a staple comprising a leg; and

an anvil comprising a planar surface, wherein a plurality of pockets are defined in said planar surface, wherein said plurality of pockets comprises a pocket comprising a cup configured to form said leg, and wherein said cup comprises a boundary surface comprising:

a perimeter;

a depth profile defining the depth of said cup along the length of said cup;

a plurality of curvatures traversing said perimeter and said depth profile, wherein each said curvature comprises a first arc intersecting said perimeter and comprising a first radius of curvature, and wherein a tangent to each said first arc at said perimeter is oriented at an angle.

7 . The end effector of claim 6 , wherein each said curvature comprises a second arc comprising a second radius of curvature, and wherein said second radius of curvature is different than said first radius of curvature.

8 . The end effector of claim 6 , wherein said angle is between 55 degrees and 80 degrees.

9 . The end effector of claim 6 , wherein said boundary surface further comprises:

a first sidewall extending from said perimeter toward said depth profile; and

a second sidewall extending from said perimeter toward said depth profile;

an inflection surface extending intermediate said first sidewall and said second sidewall, wherein said inflection surface is devoid of flat surfaces.

10 . The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the depth of said cup varies along the length thereof.

11 . An end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a staple comprising a leg; and

an anvil comprising a planar surface, wherein a plurality of pockets are defined in said planar surface, wherein said plurality of pockets comprises a pocket comprising a cup configured to form said leg of said staple, and wherein said cup comprises a boundary surface comprising:

a perimeter;

a depth profile defining the depth of said cup along the length of said cup; and

a plurality of longitudinally-offset profile curvatures intersecting said perimeter and said depth profile, wherein said profile curvatures intersect said perimeter at a first angle.

12 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein said end effector is movable between an open position and a clamped position, and wherein said leg is aligned with said cup when said end effector is in said clamped position.

13 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of profile curvatures comprises a first curvature and a second curvature, wherein said perimeter of said cup extends around a staple entry zone, a staple exit zone, and a transition zone intermediate said staple entry zone and said staple exit zone, and wherein said first curvature and said second curvature intersect said perimeter in said transition zone.

14 . The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of profile curvatures further comprises a third curvature intersecting said perimeter at a second angle in said staple entry zone, and wherein said second angle is different than said first angle.

15 . The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of profile curvatures further comprises a third curvature intersecting said perimeter at a second angle in said staple exit zone, and wherein said second angle is different than said first angle.

16 . The end effector of claim 13 , wherein said boundary surface further comprises:

a first sidewall extending from a first lateral side of said cup;

a second sidewall extending from a second lateral side of said cup; and

a bottom surface, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall meet at said bottom surface, and wherein said first sidewall meets said planar surface at said first angle along the length of said transition zone.

17 . The end effector of claim 16 , wherein said second sidewall meets said planar surface at said first angle along the length of said transition zone.

18 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein said first angle is between 55 degrees and 80 degrees.

19 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein said profile curvatures are devoid of linear portions.

20 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein each said profile curvature comprises a parabolic curvature.