Staple cartridge

A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface;
• a longitudinal slot defined in said deck, wherein said longitudinal slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end;
• a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a first longitudinal row, wherein said first longitudinal row is adjacent said longitudinal slot, wherein said first longitudinal row comprises:
• proximal staple cavities;
• distal staple cavities;
• and
• an interruption in staple cavities extending between said proximal staple cavities and said distal staple cavities, wherein said interruption comprises the absence of at least one staple cavity;
• and
• a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a second longitudinal row;
• and
• a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities.

A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface;
• and
• a longitudinal slot defined in said deck, wherein said longitudinal slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end;
• a proximal cluster of staples removably stored adjacent said proximal end on a first side of said longitudinal slot;
• a distal cluster of staples removably stored adjacent said distal end on said first side of said longitudinal slot;
• and
• only one row of intermediate staples removably stored intermediate said proximal cluster of staples and said distal cluster of staples.

A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a deck comprising a tissue-supporting surface;
• a slot defined in said deck, wherein said slot extends from said proximal end toward said distal end, and wherein said slot divides said deck into a first lateral side and a second lateral side;
• and
• a plurality of staple cavities defined in said first lateral side, wherein no staple cavities are defined in said second lateral side;
• a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• and
• a longitudinal channel defined in said second lateral side.