Patent ID: 8141762

Claim:
A surgical stapler, comprising: an anvil assembly, comprising: a tissue contacting surface; a plurality of staple pockets formed in said tissue contacting surface, wherein each said staple pocket comprises: a staple pocket longitudinal axis, a first forming cup, comprising: a first inside portion; a first outside portion; and a first interior sidewall extending between said first outside portion and said first inside portion, wherein said first interior sidewall comprises a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface; and a second forming cup, comprising: a second inside portion; a second outside portion, wherein said first inside portion is positioned in close relation to said second inside portion, wherein said first inside portion and said second inside portion are positioned offset on said staple pocket longitudinal axis, wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are positioned on opposite sides of said first inside portion and said second inside portion, and wherein said first outside portion and said second outside portion are positioned on a line which is oriented at an angle with said staple pocket longitudinal axis; and a second interior sidewall extending between said second outside portion and said second inside portion, wherein said second interior sidewall comprises a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to said tissue contacting surface.