Patent ID: 8439245

Claim:
A surgical endocutter, comprising: a staple holder; at least one feeder belt with at least one substantially planar segment having two lateral edges, at least part of said at least one feeder belt extending into said staple holder; and a plurality of staples, wherein each staple comprises a first end frangibly affixed to a corresponding one of said at least one feeder belt, wherein each of said first ends is affixed to said feeder belt at a location laterally spaced from a longitudinal centerline of said feeder belt, and a second free end, wherein said staples form at least one row, each row including at least two of said staples; wherein said staples in at least one said row are staggered relative to said staples in at least one other said row; wherein at least one of said staples is affixed to and is out of plane relative to said substantially planar segment of said feeder belt; and wherein at least one row of staples is frangibly connected to a corresponding one of said two lateral edges of said at least one feeder belt.