Surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes

#1. Technical Field

#The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling instruments and, more particularly, to surgical stapling instruments including a cartridge having multiple staple sizes.

#2. Background of Related Art

#Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical stapling apparatus are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling instrument constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevational view of the distal end portion of the surgical stapling instrument of FIG. 1, as taken through 2-2 of FIG. 1;

#Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical stapling instruments will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. In the drawings and in the description which follows, the term “proximal”, as is traditional, will refer to the end of the surgical stapling instrument which is closest to the operator while the term “distal” will refer to the end of the device which is furthest from the operator.

#The present disclosure relates to a staple cartridge and an anvil member for use in a disposable or re-usable surgical stapling apparatus. The presently disclosed staple cartridge and anvil member, as will be discussed in detail hereinbelow, may be used with any of the surgical stapling apparatus shown in FIG. 1, 4, 5, or 6. In addition, a replaceable loading unit may be located in either the disposable or the reusable surgical stapling apparatus. In one embodiment, the replaceable loading unit includes a staple cartridge, including any of the staple cartridges disclosed herein. Alternatively, the replaceable loading unit includes the staple cartridge and an anvil member, including any of the anvil members disclosed herein. In combination with the disposable or the reusable surgical stapling apparatus, the replaceable loading unit provides improved flexibility of the respective surgical stapling apparatus in that the respective surgical stapling apparatus is readily adaptable for different stapling procedures. In each of the embodiments that are hereinafter disclosed, staples or surgical fasteners disposed the staple cartridge are arranged such that tips of the surgical fasteners may be substantially flush with a tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge. Alternately, the tips of the surgical fasteners may be located above or below the tissue contacting surface.

#Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1-2, in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements, a surgical stapling instrument, in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure, is generally designated as 100.