Abstract: A stapling assembly for a surgical instrument includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck, a plurality of pockets extending through the upper deck for receiving respective staples and arranged in at least two longitudinal rows, a plurality of staple drivers, and a staple driver actuator. The stapling assembly also includes a plurality of pocket extenders extending upwardly from the upper deck. Each pocket extender has a respective top surface. The stapling assembly further includes at least one upwardly-facing surface configured to contact an adhesive of an adjunct for securing the adjunct to the stapling assembly. The at least one upwardly-facing surface is disposed at least partially between at least a portion of the upper deck and the top surfaces of the plurality of pocket extenders, and spans laterally at least partially across at least two longitudinal rows of the plurality of pockets.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical instrument includes clamping tissue with a surgical instrument end effector and actuating the end effector to drive staples into the clamped tissue, including a first longitudinal row having at least one first formed staple with a first formed shape in which the first legs are aligned laterally with each other and with the first crown; a second longitudinal row having at least one second formed staple with a second formed shape in which each second leg is skewed laterally away from the second crown at a first angle; and a third longitudinal row of third formed staples having at least one third formed staple with a third formed shape in which each third leg is skewed laterally away from the third crown at a second angle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a jaw body, an anvil surface defined by the jaw body, and an elongate slot extending through the anvil surface and along a longitudinal axis of the jaw body. The apparatus further includes a first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets disposed on the anvil surface and configured to form a plurality of first staples such that first legs of each formed first staple are laterally aligned with each other. The apparatus also includes a second longitudinal row of staple forming pockets disposed on the anvil surface laterally outwardly of the first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets relative to the longitudinal axis, and configured to form a plurality of second staples such that second legs of each formed second staple skew laterally away from a second crown of the respective formed second staple.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first and second jaw actuatable between an open and closed position, a buttress assembly having a compressible material, and a fastener assembly associated with the second jaw. The fastener assembly and the buttress assembly may cooperatively grasp tissue while the first and second jaws are in the closed position. The fastener assembly includes a deck defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of fasteners each housed within a respective opening of the plurality of openings. Each fastener can actuate out of the respective opening and into the buttress assembly. Each fastener includes a first leg having a piercing tip, and an attachment feature associated with the first leg. The attachment feature can engage the buttress assembly to couple the first leg with the buttress assembly without bending a portion of the first leg associated with the piercing tip.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil that releasably couple together to compress and staple tissue. The stapling assembly includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a deck member, and a knife member surrounding the longitudinal axis. The deck member includes a deck surface having an imaginary centerline that surrounds the longitudinal axis, a first deck surface portion extending along a first angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis, and a second deck surface portion extending along a second angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis. A first array of staple openings is disposed on the first deck surface portion and is arranged in a first orientation relative to the deck surface centerline. A second array of staple openings is disposed on the second deck surface portion and is arranged in a second orientation relative to the deck surface centerline.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a stapling assembly and an anvil configured to selectively couple with the stapling assembly to compress tissue and form staples in the tissue. The stapling assembly includes a housing extending distally along a central axis, a deck member having a plurality of staple openings configured to receive a plurality of staples, and a knife member at least partially disposed within the housing. The deck member includes an exterior perimeter having a first shape and an interior perimeter enclosed by the exterior perimeter and having a second shape different than the first shape. The knife member includes a distal end having a cutting edge that defines an edge plane that intersects the central axis. The cutting edge has a non-circular shape in the edge plane.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising staples that are lubricated before they are loaded into the staple cartridge and after they have been loaded into the staple cartridge is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil that releasably couple together to compress and staple tissue. The stapling assembly includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a deck member, and a knife member surrounding the longitudinal axis. The deck member includes a deck surface having an imaginary centerline that surrounds the longitudinal axis, a first deck surface portion extending along a first angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis, and a second deck surface portion extending along a second angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis. A first array of staple openings is disposed on the first deck surface portion and is arranged in a first orientation relative to the deck surface centerline. A second array of staple openings is disposed on the second deck surface portion and is arranged in a second orientation relative to the deck surface centerline.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first stapling assembly, a plurality of staples a plurality of staple drivers, and a second spelling assembly portion. The first stapling assembly portion has a deck surface defining a plurality of apertures. The staple drivers can drive the plurality of staples through the staple apertures of the deck surface. The second stapling assembly can couple with the first stapling assembly portion. The second stapling assembly portion has a section that overlies the deck surface. At least one of the first or second stapling assembly portions include a first support feature that inhibits deflection of the deck surface during stapling.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first and second jaw actuatable between an open and closed position, a buttress assembly having a compressible material, and a fastener assembly associated with the second jaw. The fastener assembly and the buttress assembly may cooperatively grasp tissue while the first and second jaws are in the closed position. The fastener assembly includes a deck defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of fasteners each housed within a respective opening of the plurality of openings. Each fastener can actuate out of the respective opening and into the buttress assembly. Each fastener includes a first leg having a piercing tip, and an attachment feature associated with the first leg. The attachment feature can engage the buttress assembly to couple the first leg with the buttress assembly without bending a portion of the first leg associated with the piercing tip.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil that releasably couple together to compress and staple tissue. The stapling assembly includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a deck member, and a knife member surrounding the longitudinal axis. The deck member includes a deck surface having an imaginary centerline that surrounds the longitudinal axis, a first deck surface portion extending along a first angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis, and a second deck surface portion extending along a second angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis. A first array of staple openings is disposed on the first deck surface portion and is arranged in a first orientation relative to the deck surface centerline. A second array of staple openings is disposed on the second deck surface portion and is arranged in a second orientation relative to the deck surface centerline.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a stapling assembly and an anvil configured to selectively couple with the stapling assembly to compress tissue and form staples in the tissue. The stapling assembly includes a housing extending distally along a central axis, a deck member having a plurality of staple openings configured to receive a plurality of staples, and a knife member at least partially disposed within the housing. The deck member includes an exterior perimeter having a first shape and an interior perimeter enclosed by the exterior perimeter and having a second shape different than the first shape. The knife member includes a distal end having a cutting edge that defines an edge plane that intersects the central axis. The cutting edge has a non-circular shape in the edge plane.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling assembly and an anvil that releasably couple together to compress and staple tissue. The stapling assembly includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a deck member, and a knife member surrounding the longitudinal axis. The deck member includes a deck surface having an imaginary centerline that surrounds the longitudinal axis, a first deck surface portion extending along a first angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis, and a second deck surface portion extending along a second angular range of the deck surface about the longitudinal axis. A first array of staple openings is disposed on the first deck surface portion and is arranged in a first orientation relative to the deck surface centerline. A second array of staple openings is disposed on the second deck surface portion and is arranged in a second orientation relative to the deck surface centerline.