A jaw member for use on a surgical stapling instrument comprising: a cartridge assembly having an arcuate configuration, the cartridge assembly including: a surface configured to engage tissue; a plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots extending along a length of the cartridge assembly; and a knife channel disposed between adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots; and a cartridge housing having an arcuate configuration and defining a channel therein configured for receipt of the cartridge assembly, the cartridge housing including: a base portion having a concave inner edge and a convex outer edge; and further comprising; a first wall extending from the concave inner edge; and a second wall extending from the convex outer edge; characterised in that the first and second walls (160, 170) each defining a plurality of slits (164a-c, 174a-f) therein, wherein each slit (164a-c, 174a-f) extends from top surface (162a, 172a) of respective first wall and second wall and through bottom surface (162b, 172b) of respective first wall and second wall such that first and second walls (160, 170) are segmented into a plurality of tabs (166, 176), wherein each slit of the plurality of slits (164a-c, 174a-f) is spaced from one another along a length ('L) of the cartridge housing and wherein the slits (164a-c, 174a-f) assist in bending cartridge housing into a selected curvature and overall shape by providing relief points at which cartridge housing will bend upon an application of bending forces. a cartridge assembly having an arcuate configuration, the cartridge assembly including: a surface configured to engage tissue; a plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots extending along a length of the cartridge assembly; and a knife channel disposed between adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots; and a surface configured to engage tissue; a plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots extending along a length of the cartridge assembly; and a knife channel disposed between adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots; and a cartridge housing having an arcuate configuration and defining a channel therein configured for receipt of the cartridge assembly, the cartridge housing including: a base portion having a concave inner edge and a convex outer edge; and further comprising; a first wall extending from the concave inner edge; and a second wall extending from the convex outer edge; a first wall extending from the concave inner edge; and a second wall extending from the convex outer edge; characterised in that the first and second walls (160, 170) each defining a plurality of slits (164a-c, 174a-f) therein, wherein each slit (164a-c, 174a-f) extends from top surface (162a, 172a) of respective first wall and second wall and through bottom surface (162b, 172b) of respective first wall and second wall such that first and second walls (160, 170) are segmented into a plurality of tabs (166, 176), wherein each slit of the plurality of slits (164a-c, 174a-f) is spaced from one another along a length ('L) of the cartridge housing and wherein the slits (164a-c, 174a-f) assist in bending cartridge housing into a selected curvature and overall shape by providing relief points at which cartridge housing will bend upon an application of bending forces.