Staple cartridge
A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.
1. A fastener cartridge, comprising:
fasteners;
a cartridge body, wherein a longitudinal slot extends through at least a portion of the cartridge body, and wherein the cartridge body comprises an uneven tissue compression surface comprising:
a first outer longitudinal edge on a first side of the longitudinal slot, wherein the first outer longitudinal edge comprises a first plurality of peaks;
a second outer longitudinal edge on a second side of the longitudinal slot, wherein the second outer longitudinal edge comprises a second plurality of peaks;
a first portion comprising a first height, wherein a first fastener cavity is defined in the first portion; and
a second portion comprising a second height, wherein a second fastener cavity is defined in the second portion, and wherein the second height is different than the first height; and
a sled configured to fire the fasteners from the cartridge body during a firing stroke.
2. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising six longitudinal rows of fastener cavities.
3. The fastener cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first plurality of valleys along the first outer longitudinal edge; and
a second plurality of valleys along the second outer longitudinal edge.
4. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows comprising:
a first outer row on the first side of the longitudinal slot adjacent to the first outer longitudinal edge; and
a second outer row on the second side of the longitudinal slot adjacent to the second outer longitudinal edge.
5. The fastener cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal rows further comprises:
a first inner row on the first side of the longitudinal slot and adjacent to the longitudinal slot;
a first intermediate row on the first side of the longitudinal slot;
a second inner row on the second side of the longitudinal slot and adjacent to the longitudinal slot; and
a second intermediate row on the second side of the longitudinal slot.
6. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the uneven tissue compression surface is configured to provide variable compression longitudinally along a length of the uneven tissue compression surface.
7. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the uneven tissue compression surface is configured to provide variable compression laterally along a width of the uneven tissue compression surface.
8. The fastener cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise B-form staples.
9. A stapling assembly, comprising:
fasteners;
a cartridge body, wherein a longitudinal slot extends through at least a portion of the cartridge body, and wherein the cartridge body comprises an uneven tissue compression surface comprising:
an outside perimeter comprising a plurality of peaks;
a first portion comprising a first height, wherein a first fastener cavity is defined in the first portion; and
a second portion comprising a second height, wherein a second fastener cavity is defined in the second portion, and wherein the second height is different than the first height; and
a sled configured to fire the fasteners from the cartridge body during a firing stroke.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , further comprising six longitudinal rows of fastener cavities.
11. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of valleys along the outside perimeter.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fasteners are arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows comprising:
a first outer row on a first side of the longitudinal slot adjacent to the outside perimeter; and
a second outer row on a second side of the longitudinal slot adjacent to the outside perimeter.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal rows further comprises:
a first inner row on the first side of the longitudinal slot and adjacent to the longitudinal slot;
a first intermediate row on the first side of the longitudinal slot;
a second inner row on the second side of the longitudinal slot and adjacent to the longitudinal slot; and
a second intermediate row on the second side of the longitudinal slot.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the uneven tissue compression surface is configured to provide variable compression longitudinally along a length of the uneven tissue compression surface.
15. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the uneven tissue compression surface is configured to provide variable compression laterally along a width of the uneven tissue compression surface.
16. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fasteners comprise B-form staples.
17. A stapling assembly, comprising:
fasteners arranged in at least six longitudinal rows; and
a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting deck, wherein a longitudinal slot extends through at least a portion of the cartridge body, and wherein the tissue-supporting deck comprises:
an outside perimeter comprising a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys;
a first portion comprising a first height, wherein a first fastener cavity is defined in the first portion; and
a second portion comprising a second height, wherein a second fastener cavity is defined in the second portion, and wherein the second height is different than the first height.
18. The stapling assembly of claim 17 , wherein the tissue-supporting deck comprises an uneven tissue compression surface configured to provide variable compression longitudinally.
19. The stapling assembly of claim 17 , wherein the tissue-supporting deck comprises an uneven tissue compression surface configured to provide variable compression laterally.
20. The stapling assembly of claim 17 , wherein the fasteners comprise B-form staples.