Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly positioned in the first jaw is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, and a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a deck surface configured to support patient tissue, a longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body, a plurality of staple cavities, and a longitudinal wall extending vertically below the deck surface. The longitudinal wall comprises a first zone comprising a first wall height and a second zone comprising a second wall height. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled movable longitudinally through the cartridge body, wherein the sled is sized and configured resist deflection of the cartridge body during the firing stroke within the second zone.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a staple cartridge including a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and staple drivers movable within the cartridge body to eject, or deploy, the staples from the cartridge body is disclosed herein. The staple drivers and the cartridge body comprise control surfaces that promote the efficient deployment of the staples from the cartridge body.

Abstract: A method of assembling a staple cartridge is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises attaching a pan to a cartridge body, the cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a deck, longitudinal rows of staple cavities extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The method further comprises positioning staples in the staple cavities, positioning a support in the longitudinal slot such that an end of the support extends above the deck, and positioning a sled in the cartridge body proximal to the support such that the sled is longitudinally aligned with the support.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, staple drivers, staples, and a sled assembly is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a longitudinal slot, and staple cavities defined in the deck. The sled assembly is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The sled assembly is movable distally in the first configuration during a staple firing stroke. The sled assembly is movable proximally in the second configuration during a retraction stroke. The sled assembly comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base. The rail comprises a distal-facing ramp configured to engage the staple drivers to eject the staples from the staple cavities during the staple firing stroke. The rail is comprised of metal. The second component is movable within the longitudinal slot. The first component is movable relative to the second component.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The surgical stapling assembly can be configured to form different staple shapes, such as non-planar staples and planar staples, can include an eccentrically-driven firing assembly, and/or can include a floatable component. The surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge including a longitudinal support beam.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body, and a deployable tissue cutting knife. During use, a firing member of a stapling instrument is advanced into the staple cartridge to deploy the tissue cutting knife and advance the sled distally through a staple firing stroke.

Abstract: A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knifes and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The surgical stapling assembly can be configured to form different staple shapes, such as non-planar staples and planar staples, can include an eccentrically-driven firing assembly, and/or can include a floatable component. The surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge including a longitudinal support beam.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.

Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

Abstract: Methods for operating a surgical instrument are disclosed. In various instances, the methods include preventing the operation of the surgical instrument in some capacity if an unspent staple cartridge is not seated in the surgical instrument. Moreover, in various instances, the methods include preventing the operation of the surgical instrument in some capacity if the surgical instrument cannot identify and/or authenticate the staple cartridge seated in the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw, and jaw drive system is disclosed. The jaw drive system comprises a drive screw and a closure member threadably engaged with the drive screw configured to close the second jaw. The jaw drive system further comprises an opening link connecting the closure member to the second jaw which acts to open the second jaw when the closure member is driven in an opposite direction. In the event that the second jaw is not opened by the closure link, the jaw drive system further comprises a pull member which is pushed by the closure member to dislodge the second jaw into its open position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw about a pivot, and a firing system comprising a firing member is disclosed. The firing member is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position. When the firing member is in its proximal unfired position, the pivot is nested within a recess defined in the firing member. In at least one instance, the firing member comprises a tissue cutting knife. In various instances, the firing member comprises a first cam slideably positioned within the first jaw and a second cam slideably positioned within the second jaw. In at least one such instance, the second cam is contained within a chamber defined in the second jaw when the firing member is in its proximal unfired position.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a deformable authentication key that is movable between a first state and a second state is disclosed. The authentication key is configured to operably engage a lockout of a surgical stapling device when the staple cartridge is inserted into the surgical stapling device in an initial insertion position. When the cartridge is seated in a final position within the device, the authentication key is deformed from the first state to the second state and moves the lockout from a locked position to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The surgical stapling assembly can be configured to form different staple shapes, such as non-planar staples and planar staples, can include an eccentrically-driven firing assembly, and/or can include a floatable component. The surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge including a longitudinal support beam.