A surgical instrument for treating a tissue of a patient, comprising: (a) a shaft assembly ; (b) an end effector extending from the shaft assembly along a jaw centerline , the end effector comprising: (i) a first jaw having an anvil configured to form a plurality of staples pressed against the anvil, and (ii) a second jaw , wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and (c) a staple cartridge received within the second jaw, the staple cartridge comprising: (i) a deck facing the anvil, wherein the jaw centerline is a centerline of the deck, (ii) a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, wherein at least one of the staple openings extends obliquely across the jaw centerline, and (iii) a plurality of staples positioned respectively within the plurality of staple openings; characterized in that the end effector, the staple cartridge, and the jaw centerline have a straight portion extending to an arcuate portion , and the at least one staple opening that extends obliquely across the jaw centerline is formed in the arcuate portion of the staple cartridge; wherein the jaw centerline extends longitudinally along a transverse width of the end effector following the straight portion and the arcuate portion. (a) a shaft assembly ; (b) an end effector extending from the shaft assembly along a jaw centerline , the end effector comprising: (i) a first jaw having an anvil configured to form a plurality of staples pressed against the anvil, and (ii) a second jaw , wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and (i) a first jaw having an anvil configured to form a plurality of staples pressed against the anvil, and (ii) a second jaw , wherein the first and second jaws are configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and (c) a staple cartridge received within the second jaw, the staple cartridge comprising: (i) a deck facing the anvil, wherein the jaw centerline is a centerline of the deck, (ii) a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, wherein at least one of the staple openings extends obliquely across the jaw centerline, and (iii) a plurality of staples positioned respectively within the plurality of staple openings; characterized in that the end effector, the staple cartridge, and the jaw centerline have a straight portion extending to an arcuate portion , and the at least one staple opening that extends obliquely across the jaw centerline is formed in the arcuate portion of the staple cartridge; wherein the jaw centerline extends longitudinally along a transverse width of the end effector following the straight portion and the arcuate portion. (i) a deck facing the anvil, wherein the jaw centerline is a centerline of the deck, (ii) a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, wherein at least one of the staple openings extends obliquely across the jaw centerline, and (iii) a plurality of staples positioned respectively within the plurality of staple openings; characterized in that the end effector, the staple cartridge, and the jaw centerline have a straight portion extending to an arcuate portion , and the at least one staple opening that extends obliquely across the jaw centerline is formed in the arcuate portion of the staple cartridge; wherein the jaw centerline extends longitudinally along a transverse width of the end effector following the straight portion and the arcuate portion. <EOS>