Stapling end effector configured to compensate for an uneven gap between a first jaw and a second jaw
A staple cartridge disclosed herein comprises a cartridge body and staples removably stored therein. The staple cartridge further comprises a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive the staples toward an anvil and a firing system movable toward a distal end of the cartridge body to sequentially move the staple drivers toward their fired positions. The staple drivers comprise a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface and a first staple support surface, wherein a first driver distance is defined between the first bottom drive surface and the first staple support surface, and a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface and a second staple support surface, wherein a second driver distance is defined between the second bottom drive surface and the second support surface which is different than the first driver distance.
1. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck;
a longitudinal slot defined in said deck;
a longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
a base;
staples removably stored in said longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said staples toward the anvil; and
a firing system movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to sequentially move said staple drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises:
a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a first support surface configured to drive a first said staple toward the anvil, wherein a first driver distance is defined between said first bottom drive surface and said first support surface, and wherein said first bottom drive surface is positioned a first support height distance from said base; and
a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a second support surface configured to drive a second said staple toward the anvil, wherein a second driver distance is defined between said second bottom drive surface and said second support surface, wherein said second driver distance is different than said first driver distance, wherein said second bottom drive surface is positioned a second support height distance from said base, and wherein said first support height distance is different than said second support height distance prior to said staple firing stroke.
2. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first staple driver is positioned proximally with respect to said second staple driver, and wherein said first driver distance is shorter than said second driver distance.
3. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first support surface comprises a first cradle configured to receive a portion of said first staple therein, and wherein said second support surface comprises a second cradle configured to receive a portion of said second staple therein.
4. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first staple driver is not connected to said second staple driver.
5. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first staple driver is connected to said second staple driver.
6. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises a third staple driver positioned distally with respect to said second staple driver, wherein said third staple driver comprises a third bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a third support surface configured to drive a third said staple toward the anvil, wherein a third driver distance is defined between said third bottom drive surface and said third support surface, and wherein said second driver distance is shorter than said third driver distance.
7. The staple cartridge of claim 6 , wherein said first driver distance, said second driver distance, and said third driver distance increase in height according to a linear gradient.
8. The staple cartridge of claim 6 , wherein said first driver distance, said second driver distance, and said third driver distance increase in height according to a geometric gradient.
9. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers are configured to drive a first group of said staples, wherein said first staple and said second staple are part of said first group of staples, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a second longitudinal row of staple drivers configured to drive a second group of said staples, wherein said first group of staples are defined by a first undeformed height and said second group of staples are defined by a second undeformed height, and wherein said first undeformed height is different than said second undeformed height.
10. The staple cartridge of claim 9 , wherein said deck comprises a first step aligned with said first group of staples and a second step aligned with said second group of staples, wherein said first step is defined by a first height, wherein said second step is defined by a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height.
11. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said deck is unstepped.
12. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said staples are positioned below said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.
13. The staple cartridge of claim 12 , further comprising a piece of adjunct material positioned over said deck.
14. The staple cartridge of claim 13 , wherein said adjunct material comprises a tissue thickness compensator.
15. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said first staple is positioned below said deck and said second staple is partially positioned above said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises an adjunct material positioned over said deck, and wherein said second staple is partially embedded in said adjunct material when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.
16. The staple cartridge of claim 15 , wherein said adjunct material comprises a tissue thickness compensator.
17. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said staples driven by said longitudinal row of staple drivers are stored within said cartridge body such that said staples are positioned at the same distance relative to said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.
18. The staple cartridge of claim 1 , wherein said staples driven by said longitudinal row of staple drivers are stored within said cartridge body such that said staples are not positioned at the same distance relative to said deck when said staple drivers are in said unfired position.
19. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler including an anvil, said staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a deck;
a longitudinal slot defined in said deck;
a longitudinal row of staple cavities; and
a base:
staples removably stored in said longitudinal row of staple cavities;
a longitudinal row of staple drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said staples toward the anvil;
a firing system movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to sequentially move said staple drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of staple drivers comprises:
a first staple driver comprising a first bottom drive surface, wherein said first bottom drive surface is positioned a first distance from said base; and
a second staple driver comprising a second bottom drive surface, wherein said second bottom drive surface is positioned a second distance from said base, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance prior to said staple firing stroke; and
means for driving said staples to different distances relative to said deck.
20. An end effector for use with a surgical system, said end effector comprising:
a fastener cartridge, comprising:
a distal end;
a deck;
a longitudinal row of fastener cavities;
fasteners removably stored in said longitudinal row of fastener cavities; and
a base;
a forming jaw;
a longitudinal row of fastener drivers movable between an unfired position and a fired position to drive said fasteners toward said forming jaw; and
a firing system movable toward said distal end during a fastener firing stroke to sequentially move said fastener drivers between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said longitudinal row of fastener drivers comprises:
a first fastener driver comprising a first bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a first support surface configured to drive a first said fastener toward said forming jaw, wherein a first driver distance is defined between said first bottom drive surface and said first support surface, and wherein a first distance is defined between said base and said first bottom drive surface; and
a second fastener driver comprising a second bottom drive surface configured to be driven by said firing system and a second support surface configured to drive a second said fastener toward the anvil, wherein a second driver distance is defined between said second bottom drive surface and said second support surface, wherein said second driver distance is different than said first driver distance, wherein a second distance is defined between said base and said second bottom drive surface, and wherein said first distance is different than said second distance.