Collapsible anvil plate assemblies for circular surgical stapling devices

A surgical stapler configured to clamp, staple, and cut the tissue of a patient, wherein said surgical stapler comprises:

• a housing;
• a shaft extending from said housing, wherein said shaft comprises:
• a first actuator configured to move within said shaft;
• a second actuator concentric with said first actuator, wherein said second actuator is configured to move within said shaft;
• and
• a third actuator concentric with said first actuator and said second actuator, wherein said third actuator is configured to move within said shaft;
• a staple cartridge comprising a non-collapsible cartridge body;
• an anvil movable between a proximal position and a distal position relative to said staple cartridge, wherein said anvil comprises a rotary system configured to transition said anvil from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration;
• and
• an end effector configured to perform:
• a first end effector function in response to the movement of said first actuator;
• a second end effector function in response to the movement of said second actuator, wherein said second end effector function comprises positioning said anvil relative to said staple cartridge;
• and
• a third end effector function in response to the movement of said the third actuator, wherein said third end effector function comprises moving said anvil from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration, and wherein the first, second, and third end effector functions are separate and distinct.

A surgical stapler configured to clamp, staple, and cut tissue, wherein said surgical stapler comprises:

• a housing;
• a shaft extending from said housing, wherein said shaft comprises three concentric actuators, wherein said three concentric actuators are operable independently of each other, wherein said three concentric actuators are actuatable relative to said housing, and wherein said three concentric actuators are configured to perform three separate and distinct end effector functions;
• a staple cartridge comprising a rigid staple cartridge body;
• an expandable anvil;
• and
• a distal head portion configured to rotate relative to said housing, wherein one of said separate and distinct end effector functions comprises rotating said distal head portion to expand said anvil.

A surgical stapler configured to clamp, staple, and cut tissue, wherein said surgical stapler comprises:

• a housing;
• a shaft extending from said housing, wherein said shaft comprises three concentric actuators, wherein said three concentric actuators are operable independently of each other, wherein said three concentric actuators are actuatable relative to said housing, and wherein said three concentric actuators are configured to perform three separate and distinct end effector functions;
• a staple cartridge comprising a unitary cartridge body;
• an expandable anvil;
• and
• a distal head portion configured to rotate relative to said shaft, wherein one of said separate and distinct end effector functions comprises rotating said distal head portion to expand said anvil.