Tissue-acquisition and fastening devices and methods

A stapling device for fastening tissue, the device comprising:

• a housing coupled to an anvil, the housing containing:
• a cartridge configured to hold a plurality of staples in a linear array;
• a pusher assembly having a plurality of projections and a plurality of pusher elements configured to simultaneously engage an end of each staple of the plurality of staples;
• and
• an ejector assembly coupled to the pusher assembly, the ejector assembly including a first part and a second part each defining a plurality of slots, and each slot receiving a corresponding projection of the pusher assembly,
• wherein moving the first part relative to the second part of the ejector assembly causes the plurality of projections to move within the corresponding slots and causes the pusher elements to move towards the anvil.

A stapling device for fastening tissue, the device comprising:

• a housing coupled to an anvil, the housing containing:
• a cartridge defining a plurality of slots distributed in a linear array, each slot containing a staple;
• a pusher assembly having a plurality of pusher elements configured to simultaneously engage the plurality of staples to eject the staples from the cartridge as the pusher assembly moves towards the anvil, the pusher assembly further including a plurality of projections;
• and
• an ejector assembly including a first plate and a second plate movable relative to each other, wherein the cartridge is disposed between the first plate and the second plate;
• wherein movement of the first and second plates relative to each other engages the pusher elements of the pusher assembly to eject the staples.