A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises an elongate slot, a deck surface, and a row of staple cavities. Each staple cavity comprises proximal and distal ends. The distal end is closer to the elongate slot than the proximal end. A firing member is configured to drive the staple drivers from an unfired position to a fired position. The distal end of the staple cavity is aligned with a first end of a staple driver, and the proximal end of the staple cavity is aligned with a second end of the staple driver. The first end of the staple driver extends a first distance above the deck surface and the second end of the staple driver extends a second distance above the deck surface when the staple driver is in the fired position. The first distance is different than the second distance.

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.

A surgical stapling device (10) includes a clamp slide assembly (30) and a tool assembly (16). The tool assembly (16) includes an anvil assembly (22) and a cartridge assembly (20). The cartridge assembly (20) is releasably supported on the clamp slide assembly (30) and the clamp slide assembly (30) is movable in relation to the anvil assembly (22) to move the surgical stapling device (10) between spaced and clamped positions. The cartridge assembly (20) and the clamp slide assembly (30) each include retention structure that are movable into engagement with each other when the cartridge assembly (20) is loaded onto the clamp slide assembly (30) to retain the cartridge assembly (20) on the clamp slide assembly (30).

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.

An end effector for use to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil has an anvil face and a first staple pocket defined by the anvil face, where the first staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup for staple formation. The cartridge has a first staple and a first driver. The first staple, once deployed by the first driver and deformed by the first staple pocket, has a formed configuration in which a first portion of a first staple leg and a second portion of a second staple leg are bent relative to a crown and cross the midpoint of the crown and one of the first portion and the second portion overlaps the other of the first portion and the second portion.

A tool assembly for leak resistant dissection of tissue includes an anvil and a cartridge housing a plurality of staples. The anvil and cartridge have a linear longitudinal portion and a transverse portion positioned distally of the longitudinal portion. The linear longitudinal portion of the cartridge and anvil assemblies is substantially longer than the curved distal portion. In use, when a surgical procedure is performed that requires a plurality of cutting operations, e.g., a gastrectomy procedure, the first cutting operation is performed to form a substantially linear cut line having a curved distal portion that curves towards a specimen side of the organ, e.g., the stomach. In each subsequent cutting operation, the proximal portion of the tool assembly is positioned with the existing cut line such that a termination point of the existing cut line is positioned on the specimen side of the tissue or organ being partially removed.

A surgical assembly comprising a distal connector portion, a stapling assembly, and a sensor is disclosed. The stapling assembly comprises an end effector and a proximal connector portion configured to releasably connect to the distal connector portion. The end effector comprises an anvil and an elongate channel adapted to receive a staple cartridge. At least one of the anvil and the elongate channel is movable to a clamped configuration. The proximal connector portion comprises first bayonet-mount lugs and second bayonet-mount lugs. The sensor is configured to detect connections by the proximal connector portion. The surgical assembly further comprises an end-of-life indicator for the stapling assembly based on connections by the proximal connector portion.

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

A jaw restraint is provided to temporarily secure an anvil assembly relative to a cartridge assembly during shipping. The jaw restraint generally includes a body portion having an upper arm for releasably securing the anvil assembly and a lower arm for releasably securing the cartridge assembly. An inwardly projection is provided between the upper and lower arms. The anvil assembly is secured between the upper arm and the inwardly directed projection and the cartridge assembly is secured between the lower arm of the inwardly directed projection. One or more finger members extending proximally from the body portion may be provided to facilitate biasing the upper arm away from the lower arm to release the anvil and cartridge assemblies from the jaw restraint. The jaw restraint may be provided with structure for engagement with shipping packaging.

A surgical instrument insertable through a trocar comprising a shaft including a frame, an end effector, and an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable about the articulation joint. The shaft further comprises an outer housing slidable relative to the shaft frame including a distal non-round housing portion adjacent the articulation joint and a longitudinal round housing portion extending proximally from the distal housing portion, wherein the longitudinal round housing portion comprises a first diameter, and wherein the distal housing portion comprises a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation lock configured to prevent the rotation of the end effector, wherein the articulation lock is positioned within the distal non-round housing portion.