Surgical stapler cartridge having tissue engagement protrusions with enlarged engagement surface

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a cartridge body;
• (b) a deck defined by the cartridge body, wherein the deck is configured to compress tissue against an anvil of a surgical stapler;
• (c) an elongate slot formed in the deck;
• (d) a plurality of pockets formed in the deck and configured to house a plurality of staples, wherein the plurality of pockets includes a first pocket having a first longitudinal end;
• and
• (e) a plurality of engagement protrusions extending from the deck and configured to grip tissue or an adjunct material, wherein the plurality of engagement protrusions includes a first engagement protrusion associated with the first pocket and that includes a first end portion that tapers inwardly towards the first longitudinal end such that the first end portion is narrower at the first longitudinal end than at first and second lateral sides of the first pocket, the first engagement protrusion comprising:
• (i) a first inwardly facing projection, and
• (ii) a first planar surface extending substantially parallel to the deck, wherein the first planar surface defines a maximum height of the first engagement protrusion relative to the deck, the first planar surface comprising:
• (A) an inner boundary,
• (B) an outer boundary,
• (C) a first portion defining a first distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in a direction perpendicular to the outer boundary, and
• (D) a second portion that includes the first inwardly facing projection, wherein the second portion defines a second distance between the inner boundary and the outer boundary in a direction perpendicular to a straight portion of the outer boundary, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a cartridge body;
• (b) a deck defined by the cartridge body, wherein the deck is configured to compress tissue against an anvil of a surgical stapler;
• (c) an elongate slot formed in the deck;
• (d) a plurality of pockets formed in the deck and configured to house a plurality of staples, wherein the plurality of pockets includes a first pocket having a first longitudinal end, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side;
• and
• (e) a plurality of engagement protrusions extending from the deck and configured to grip tissue or an adjunct material, wherein the plurality of engagement protrusions includes a first engagement protrusion associated with the first pocket and that includes a first end portion that tapers inwardly towards the first longitudinal end such that the first end portion is narrower at the first longitudinal end than at the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the first pocket, the first engagement protrusion comprising:
• (i) a first inwardly facing projection that extends inwardly toward the first pocket,
• (ii) a second inwardly facing projection that extends inwardly toward the first pocket, and
• (iii) a first planar surface extending substantially parallel to the deck, wherein the first planar surface defines a maximum height of the first engagement protrusion relative to the deck, wherein the first planar surface has a non-uniform area defined at least in part by the first and second inwardly facing projections, wherein the first planar surface defines a substantially right angle opening away from the first pocket.