Anvil for Surgical Stapler

Abstract

An anvil assembly for use therewith a surgical fastener applying apparatus including an anvil plate and an anvil head configured and dimensioned to support the anvil plate. The anvil plate and the anvil head may be formed from different materials. The anvil plate can include a tapered outer side wall allowing the anvil assembly to realize a substantially uniform proximal-most surface upon assembly.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a surgical fastener during a surgical procedure, the method comprising:
 ejecting a surgical fastener having first and second legs from a surgical fastener retention assembly;   moving the surgical fastener into a fastener pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface of an anvil assembly such that the first and second legs of the surgical fastener are received by cavities comprising the fastener pocket, the cavities being connected by a linear section having first and second endpoints connected to each other by sidewalls extending in parallel relation, and each of the cavities including curvate outer rims defining an arc segment of a circle having first and second endpoints coincident with the linear section; and   advancing the surgical fastener in relation to the surgical fastener retention assembly such that the first and second legs of the surgical fastener traverse arcuate forming surfaces of the linear section.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein moving the surgical fastener into a fastener pocket includes moving the surgical fastener into a fastener pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface of an anvil assembly such that the first and second legs of the surgical fastener are received by spherical cavities that provide increased surface area configured and dimensioned for contact with the first and second legs of the surgical fastener to guide the legs of the surgical fasteners into contact with the arcuate forming surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein advancing the surgical fastener includes advancing the first and second legs along the arcuate forming surfaces to form a B-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the side walls of the linear section are planar and the method includes confining the first and second legs between the sidewalls to limit lateral movement of the first and second legs during advancement of the surgical fastener.