Multi-fire stapling methods

A method for stapling tissue, comprising:

• inserting a stapler into a body cavity of a patient, wherein the stapler includes an anvil and a staple member having a plurality of staples, wherein the staple member and the anvil are configured to relatively move towards and away form each other along an axis;
• driving a first set of staples from the staple member towards the anvil;
• after driving the first set of staples, rotating at least one of a staple driver or the staple member to align a second set of staples with the staple driver;
• and
• driving a second set of staples from the staple member towards the anvil,
• wherein the first and second sets of staples are arranged symmetrically about the axis.

A method for stapling tissue, comprising:

• inserting a stapler into a body cavity of a patient, wherein the stapler includes an anvil and a staple member spaced from the anvil along an axis, the staple member including a plurality of staples oriented radially with respect to the axis, the plurality of staples including at least a first set of staples and a second set of staples;
• driving the first set of staples from the staple member towards the anvil at a first time;
• and
• driving the second set of staples from the staple member towards the anvil at a second time.