Surgical end effectors and anvils

A staple forming apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of first staples, wherein each said first staple is supported by a first drive surface;
• a plurality of second staples, wherein each said second staple is supported by a second drive surface;
• a non-stepped tissue compression surface, wherein a plurality of forming pockets are defined in said non-stepped tissue compression surface, and wherein said plurality of forming pockets comprise:
• a longitudinal row of first forming pockets each comprising a first depth, wherein each said first forming pocket is configured to form a said first staple to a first formed height within a first range of formed heights;
• and
• a longitudinal row of second forming pockets each comprising a second depth, wherein said second depth is different than said first depth, wherein each said second forming pocket is configured to form a said second staple to a second formed height within a second range of formed heights, and wherein said second range of formed heights is equal to said first range of formed heights;
• and
• a staple cartridge comprising a deck and a longitudinal slot, wherein said deck comprises a tissue-contacting surface comprising a first deck surface and a second deck surface positioned on one side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said second deck surface is positioned above said first deck surface, wherein said second deck surface is positioned further away from said longitudinal slot than said first deck surface, wherein each said first drive surface is configured to drive a said first staple a first overdrive distance above said first deck surface, wherein each said second drive surface is configured to drive a said second staple a second overdrive distance above said second deck surface, wherein a first tissue gap is defined between said first deck surface and said non-stepped tissue compression surface, wherein a second tissue gap is defined between said second deck surface and said non-stepped tissue compression surface, and wherein said second tissue gap is less than said first tissue gap.

A surgical end effector, comprising:

• an anvil comprising a non-stepped tissue compression surface, wherein a plurality of forming pockets are defined in said tissue compression surface, and wherein said plurality of forming pockets comprise:
• a first forming pocket comprising a first depth;
• and
• a second forming pocket comprising a second depth, wherein said second depth is different than said first depth;
• and
• a staple cartridge, comprising:
• a longitudinal slot;
• a deck comprising a tissue-contacting surface, wherein said tissue contacting surface comprises a first planar surface and a second planar surface positioned on one side of said longitudinal slot, wherein said second planar surface is positioned above said first planar surface, wherein a first tissue gap is defined between said first planar surface and said non-stepped tissue compression surface when said surgical end effector is in a closed configuration, wherein a second tissue gap is defined between said second planar surface and said non-stepped tissue compression surface when said surgical end effector is in said closed configuration, and wherein said second tissue gap is less than said first tissue gap;
• a plurality of drivers comprising a first driver and a second driver;
• and
• a plurality of staples, comprising:
• a first staple comprising a first unformed height and supported on a first drive surface of said first driver, wherein said first staple is driven a first distance into forming contact with said first pocket by said first driver and formed to a first formed height, and wherein said first drive surface is positioned above said tissue-contacting surface of said deck when said first staple is formed to said first formed height;
• and
• a second staple comprising a second unformed height and supported on a second drive surface of said second driver, wherein said second staple is driven a second distance into forming contact with said second pocket by said second driver to a second formed height, wherein said second distance is different than said first distance, wherein said second drive surface is positioned above said tissue-contacting surface of said deck when said second staple is formed to said first formed height, wherein said second formed height is substantially the same as said first formed height, and wherein the difference between said first distance and said second distance corresponds to the difference between said first depth and said second depth.