Staple shape control using selective bending segments

A staple cartridge comprising:

• a staple opening containing an unformed staple, the staple having two legs, wherein each of the two legs includes a first leg portion and a second leg portion;
• and
• a set of guides disposed adjacent the staple opening,
• wherein, when the staple exits the staple opening, the first leg portion has a first interaction with the guides and the second leg portion has a second interaction with the guides, the second interaction being different than the first interaction, wherein the first interaction and the second interaction correspond to a degree of plastic deformation of the first leg portion and the second leg portion, respectively.

A surgical staple cartridge comprising:

• a staple pocket having an opening and containing a preformed staple, the staple having an upper leg portion, a middle leg portion, and a lower leg portion;
• and
• a set of arbors disposed at opposite ends of the opening and adjacent the opening,
• wherein the set of arbors are configured to plastically deform the middle leg portion of the staple as the staple exits the staple pocket at the opening along an exit path.

A staple cartridge comprising:

• a staple opening containing a preformed staple, the staple having two legs and a crown, wherein each of the two legs includes a tip, a straight portion adjacent the tip, a crown portion adjacent the crown, and an angled portion between the straight portion and the crown portion;
• and
• arbors disposed at opposite ends of the staple opening and adjacent the staple opening,
• wherein the staple is configured to exit the staple opening during a firing stroke.