Patent ID: 8636187

Claim:
A surgical stapling system comprising: an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator; and an end effector operably coupled to said elongated shaft assembly, said end effector comprising: an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon; and a staple cartridge comprising: a cartridge body supported for confronting relationship with the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position; a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon application of firing motions thereto that are transmitted by the elongated shaft assembly, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding portion of the anvil; and a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being laterally spaced from said first staple drivers, said at least one second staple driver being movable from another unactuated position to another actuated position upon application of said firing motions thereto, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting another staple thereon that, when unformed, is substantially similar in size to said staple supported on said first staple support cradle, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from another portion of the anvil that corresponds to the second staple support cradle and wherein said second staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance.