Patent ID: 8113406
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An end effector for a surgical stapling apparatus, the end effector comprising: a staple cartridge having a planar surface; a first plurality of retention slots located on the surface, the first plurality of retention slots including a first plurality of staples, each staple in the first plurality of staples having a pair of legs with a first leg length; a second plurality of retention slots located on the surface, the second plurality of retention slots including a second plurality of staples, each staple in the second plurality of staples having a pair of legs with a second leg length that is different than the first leg length; an anvil member cooperative with the staple cartridge, the anvil member having a planar surface, the planar surface including a first plurality of staple forming pockets associated with the first plurality of retention slots and a second plurality of staple forming pockets associated with the second plurality of retention slots; a first plurality of pushers associated with the first plurality of staples; a second plurality of pushers associated with the second plurality of staples, wherein movement of the first and second pluralities of pushers urge the staples through their respective retention slots; a first gap defined between the planar surface of the staple cartridge and the planar surface of the anvil associated with the first plurality of staple forming pockets; and a second gap defined between the planar surface of the staple cartridge and the planar surface of the anvil associated with the second plurality of staple forming pockets, the second gap being different from the first gap.