A stapling assembly comprising an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a tissue cutting knife is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a longitudinal slot, a first group of staple cavities, a second group of staple cavities, staple drivers, and staples. The staples comprise a first group of staples positioned in the first group of staple cavities, and a second group of staples positioned in the second group of staple cavities. The first group of staples are deformed against the anvil to a first formed height by the staple drivers during a staple firing stroke. The second group of staples are deformed against the anvil to a second formed height by the staple drivers during the staple firing stroke. The second formed height is different than the first formed height. The tissue cutting knife is movable longitudinally within the longitudinal slot to drive the staple drivers during the staple firing stroke.

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between an open position and closed positions. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure member that is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The closure member comprises at least one opening cam that protrudes therefrom to movably engage a corresponding cam surface on the second jaw such that upon application of the opening motion, the at least one opening cam movably engages the corresponding cam surface to move the second jaw to an open position, even when the jaws are under a load.

A surgical stapling device includes a body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and a tool assembly that articulates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. An articulation link assembly is supported in the body portion and is movable between retracted and advanced positions to pivot the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation assembly supports an articulation lock assembly that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to longitudinal movement of the articulation assembly to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly. The articulation lock assembly stabilize the articulation link assembly within the body portion when the surgical stapling device is fired to minimize occurrence of tremors in the tool assembly.

A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that includes a drive assembly having a drive member and a working end. The working end of the drive assembly has a I-beam configuration and includes a first beam, a second beam, and a strut interconnecting the first beam and the second beam. The strut defines a slot. The drive member includes a distal portion that is press-fit into the slot in the strut to secure the working end to the drive member.

A method for attaching a drive rod to a knife includes: forming a knife having proximal and distal ends; forming an aperture within the proximal end of the knife, the aperture including a series of fins disposed therein; weaving a distal end of a knife rod through the series of fins in an alternating manner; and engaging a cap onto the distal end of the knife drive rod to secure the knife drive rod within the aperture of the knife.

An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. Each of the anvil and the cartridge has a face that is positionable on the anatomical structure. The anvil is coupled to the cartridge at first and second ends. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the faces at the first ends that is different from a second gap between the faces at the second ends.

A surgical instrument includes a motor-driven drive shaft, a distal firing rod coupled to a driven element of a surgical end effector, and a clutch mechanism coupled between the drive shaft and the distal firing rod. The clutch mechanism is configured to electrically connect the drive shaft and the distal firing rod upon the distal firing rod experiencing a threshold force. The electrical connection signals a processor that the threshold force has been exceeded.

A surgical kit includes a stapling device and a securing ring. The stapling device includes a reload including a trocar member and an anvil assembly including an anvil and an anvil shaft detachably couplable to the trocar member of the reload for unitary movement. The securing ring is selectively securable about the anvil shaft. The securing ring has an annular profile defining an aperture. The securing ring includes first and second portions and an intermediate portion. The first and second portions adjustably overlap each other. The first portion includes a first tab. The second portion includes a hook. The intermediate portion includes a second tab and defines slots to receive the hook of the second portion. When the first and second tabs are displaced relative to each other, the aperture is transitionable from a first state having a first diameter to a second state having a second diameter.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

A loading unit includes a staple cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and an anvil hook assembly. The anvil assembly has an opening defined therethrough, and the anvil hook assembly includes an anvil hook disposed within the opening of the anvil assembly and a pivot pin extending through the anvil hook and the anvil assembly. The anvil hook is pivotable with respect to the anvil assembly about the pivot pin between a loading position and a loaded position. The loading unit may further include a surgical buttress assembly including a cartridge buttress releasably attached to the staple cartridge assembly, an anvil buttress releasably attachable to the anvil assembly by the anvil hook, and a connecting member interconnecting the cartridge and anvil buttresses.