Staple cartridge having staple cavities extending at a transverse angle relative to a longitudinal cartridge axis

A stapling assembly, comprising:

• an anvil jaw;
• and
• a staple cartridge, comprising:
• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a deck configured to support patient tissue, wherein the deck extends between the proximal end and the distal end;
• a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, wherein the longitudinal slot defines a longitudinal cartridge axis, wherein a first deck side of the deck is on a first lateral side of the longitudinal slot and a second deck side of the deck is on a second lateral side of the longitudinal slot;
• a longitudinal row of first staple cavities defined in the first deck side, wherein each first staple cavity comprises:
• a first proximal end;
• a first distal end;
• and
• a first cavity axis extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end;
• and
• a longitudinal row of second staple cavities defined in the first deck side, wherein the longitudinal row of first staple cavities is positioned intermediate the longitudinal slot and the longitudinal row of second staple cavities, and wherein each second staple cavity comprises:
• a second proximal end;
• a second distal end;
• and
• a second cavity axis extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end, wherein the second cavity axis extends at a transverse angle relative to the longitudinal cartridge axis and at a transverse angle relative to the first cavity axis;
• first staples removably stored in the first staple cavities;
• second staples removably stored in the second staple cavities;
• staple drivers movably positioned within the cartridge body;
• and
• a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a staple firing stroke, wherein the sled engages the staple drivers during the staple firing stroke to lift the first staples and the second staples toward the anvil jaw.

A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, wherein the longitudinal slot defines a longitudinal cartridge axis, wherein a first cartridge side of the cartridge body is on a first lateral side of the longitudinal slot and a second cartridge side of the cartridge body is on a second lateral side of the longitudinal slot;
• a longitudinal row of first staple cavities defined in the first cartridge side, wherein each first staple cavity comprises:
• a first proximal end;
• a first distal end;
• and
• a first cavity axis extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end;
• and
• a longitudinal row of second staple cavities defined in the first cartridge side, wherein the longitudinal row of first staple cavities is positioned intermediate the longitudinal slot and the longitudinal row of second staple cavities, and wherein each second staple cavity comprises:
• a second proximal end;
• a second distal end;
• and
• a second cavity axis extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end, wherein the second cavity axis extends at a transverse angle relative to the longitudinal cartridge axis and at a transverse angle relative to the first cavity axis;
• a plurality of staples;
• and
• a ramp movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a staple firing stroke, wherein the ramp is configured to lift the staples out of the cartridge body during the staple firing stroke.