Devices and methods for guiding surgical fasteners

A surgical fastening device, comprising:

• a staple cartridge configured to disposed within a jaw of an end effector, the staple cartridge including
• a plurality of staple-receiving recesses formed therein,
• a plurality of D-shaped staples configured to rotate about a pivot point into tissue engaged between the first and second jaws, each staple being disposed within a staple-receiving recess, and each staple having a curved leg and a substantially straight leg, and
• a plurality of guide members formed on the cartridge, each guide member extending from a surface of the cartridge at a location adjacent to a staple-receiving recess, and each guide member having an inner arcuate surface configured to guide a leg of a staple along an arcuate path and into tissue engaged between the first and second jaws, a curvature of the inner arcuate surface mimicking a curvature of the curved leg.

A surgical fastening device, comprising:

• an elongate shaft;
• an end effector coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including first and second opposed jaws coupled to one another and configured to engage tissue therebetween, the first jaw being located below the second jaw;
• and
• a staple cartridge disposed within the first jaw, the staple cartridge including
• a plurality of D-shaped staples disposed therein and configured to rotate about a pivot point into tissue engaged between the first and second jaws, and
• a plurality of guide members formed on the cartridge, each guide member being located below a tissue-engaging surface of the cartridge, each guide member having opposed sidewalls and an inner arcuate surface that extends between and connects the opposed sidewalls, each guide member has a U-shaped cross-section defined by the opposed sidewalls and the inner arcuate surface, and the guide member is configured to guide a leg of a staple along an arcuate path and into tissue engaged between the first and second jaws.