Surgical stapler cartridge with support features

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first stapling assembly portion that includes a longitudinally extending body extending along a longitudinal axis;
• (b) a plurality of staples;
• (c) a plurality of staple drivers configured to drive the plurality of staples through the plurality of staple apertures of the deck surface, wherein the longitudinally extending body is configured to at least partially house the plurality of staples and the plurality of staple drivers;
• and
• (d) a second stapling assembly portion defining a channel extending along the longitudinal axis between a first open end and a second open end, wherein the second stapling assembly comprises a support structure including:
• (i) a set of exterior sidewalls, and
• (ii) a set of interior sidewalls, wherein the set of interior sidewalls define a central knife slot,
• wherein the support structure is configured to receive the longitudinally extending body via the first open end in order to couple the second stapling assembly portion with the first stapling assembly portion, wherein the support structure is configured to enhance the rigidity of the first stapling assembly portion while coupled together.

A method of manufacturing a staple cartridge assembly, the method comprising:

• (a) forming a cartridge body from a polymer, wherein the cartridge body comprises a staple deck defining a plurality of staple apertures configured to house an array of staples;
• (b) separately forming a reinforcement structure from a metal;
• and
• (c) attaching the reinforcement structure to the cartridge body such that the reinforcement structure overlies the staple deck to enhance the rigidity of the cartridge body.