Powered circular stapler with reciprocating drive member to provide independent stapling and cutting of tissue

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a shaft comprising a trocar;
• and
• (b) an end effector located distally relative to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an arcuate staple deck defining a first plurality of staple openings and a second plurality of staple openings, wherein each opening of the first plurality of staple openings houses a respective first staple of a first plurality of staples, wherein each opening of the second plurality of staple openings houses a respective second staple of a second plurality of staples,
• (ii) an anvil configured to selectively attach to the trocar, wherein the anvil is further configured to actuate relative to the arcuate staple deck to compress tissue between the arcuate staple deck and the anvil,
• (iii) a first staple driver configured to actuate distally relative to the arcuate staple deck to thereby drive the first plurality of staples out of the first plurality of staple openings,
• (iv) a second staple driver configured to actuate distally relative to the arcuate staple deck and the first staple driver to drive the second plurality of staples out of the second plurality of staple openings, and
• (v) an arcuate knife configured to actuate along a distal stroke distally relative to each of the arcuate staple deck, the first staple driver, and the second staple driver to thereby sever tissue located between the anvil and the arcuate staple deck during the distal stroke.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a shaft comprising a reciprocating driver;
• and
• (b) an end effector located distally relative to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) an annular staple deck defining a first plurality of staple openings and a second plurality of staple openings, wherein each opening of the first plurality of staple openings houses a respective first staple of a first plurality of staples, wherein each opening of the second plurality of staple openings houses a respective second staple of a second plurality of staples,
• (ii) an anvil configured to actuate relative to the annular staple deck to compress tissue between the annular staple deck and the anvil,
• (iii) a first staple driver configured to actuate distally relative to the annular staple deck to thereby drive the first plurality of staples out of the first plurality of staple openings,
• (iv) a second staple driver configured to actuate distally relative to each of the annular staple deck and the first staple driver to drive the second plurality of staples out of the second plurality of staple openings, and
• (v) a knife configured to actuate along a tissue severing stroke distally relative to each of the annular staple deck, the first staple drive, and the second staple driver to thereby sever tissue located between the anvil and the annular staple deck during the tissue severing stroke,
• wherein the reciprocating driver is configured to actuate the first staple driver, the second staple driver, and the knife.