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 stapling device comprises a housing and a plurality of cartridges that are coupled together to form a barrel that is rotatably supported within the housing. Each of the cartridges defines a plurality of staple pockets that support a plurality of staples. An anvil is pivotally coupled to the housing and is movable in relation to the barrel between an open position and a clamped position. A drive shaft extends through the housing and through the barrel and a pusher operatively connected to the drive shaft. The pusher is configured to translate through the barrel to eject the staples from the plurality of cartridges in response to actuation of the drive shaft. The barrel is positioned within the housing to align a first one of the plurality of cartridges with the anvil to eject the staples from the first cartridge upon movement of the pusher within the barrel through a first firing stroke and subsequently rotatable within the housing to align a second one of the plurality of cartridges with the anvil to eject the staples from the second cartridge upon movement of the pusher within the barrel through a second firing stroke.

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.

A method is disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining a first staple cartridge and obtaining a second staple cartridge, wherein the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge comprise the same length and the same width. The method can further comprise inserting the first staple cartridge into a channel comprising a keyed profile, wherein complete insertion of the first staple cartridge into the channel is prevented by the keyed profile. Additionally, the method can comprise inserting the second staple cartridge into the channel, wherein complete insertion of the second staple cartridge into the channel is permitted by the keyed profile.

A surgical stapling device includes a cartridge assembly and a firing assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge body defining a central knife slot and rows of staple receiving pockets positioned on each side of the central knife slot. Each of the staple receiving slots receives one of the staples. The firing assembly includes a first firing device and a second firing device. The first firing device is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position independently of the second firing device to eject some of the staples on both sides of the central knife slot from the cartridge body, and the second firing device is subsequently movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the staples remaining in the cartridge body from the cartridge body.

A curved cartridge assembly of a surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge, an alignment pin received in the staple cartridge and configured to engage an opening in an anvil assembly, and a shipping cap configured to detachably couple to the staple cartridge. The shipping cap has is engaged with the distal end portion of the alignment pin to resist translation of the alignment pin. With the cartridge assembly loaded into the surgical stapler, upon releasing the shipping cap from the staple cartridge the alignment pin translates into engagement with the opening in the anvil assembly.

A surgical instrument and method of manipulating tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism configured to be selectively manipulated by an operator, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly and configured to receive a cartridge for manipulating tissue of a patient. The end effector includes a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a gap between the distal and proximal end portions, and a guide pin. The guide pin extends from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion and is connected thereto. Thereby, the guide pin is configured to secure the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion and inhibit deflection of the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion.

A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.

A method of compressing tissue during a surgical procedure is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a surgical instrument comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, establishing a communication pathway between the surgical instrument and a surgical hub, and inserting the surgical instrument into a surgical site. The method further comprises compressing tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw, determining a location of the compressed tissue with respect to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, communicating the determined location of the compressed tissue to the surgical hub, and displaying the determined location of the compressed tissue on a visual feedback device.

Surgical instruments are disclosed comprising a firing assembly including a fuse having a plurality of operating states.