Patent ID: 7837079

Claim:
A replaceable loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a) a cartridge having: i) a first cartridge tissue contacting surface and a second cartridge tissue contacting surface, the first cartridge tissue contacting surface having a different height than the second cartridge tissue contacting surface with respect to a bottom surface of the apparatus, ii) each of the cartridge tissue contacting surfaces defining retention slots, each retention slot being an opening extending through the cartridge tissue contacting surface for retaining staples therein, iii) the staples in the retention slots including at least a first staple and a second staple, the first staple having a first leg length different from a second leg length of the second staple; and iv) at least one fastener ejection member, the staples being arranged to cooperate with the at least one fastener ejection member such that actuation of the at least one fastener ejection member urges the staples through their respective retention slots.