Staple cartridge

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises a tissue stop configured to inhibit tissue from flowing out of the distal end of the stapling instrument as the tissue is being stapled and/or incised. Also disclosed is a surgical stapling apparatus comprising one or more interruptions, or absent staple cavities, in the rows of staple cavities defined therein. Also disclosed is a surgical stapling apparatus comprising a channel configured to receive tissue and/or another surgical instrument therein. In at least one instance, such a stapling apparatus could comprise staple cavities on one side of a longitudinal knife slot and no staple cavities on the other side of the knife slot. Further disclosed are methods for using the surgical stapling devices disclosed herein.

1 . 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; 
 a plurality of staple cavities; 
   a plurality of staples removably stored in said staple cavities which are arranged in a staple pattern; and   a tissue stop positioned in said slot, wherein said tissue stop extends above said deck surface, wherein said tissue stop is positioned within said staple pattern, and wherein said tissue stop is configured to inhibit the distal flow of tissue relative to said deck.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting member movably positioned within said slot during a firing stroke, wherein said cutting member is configured to contact said tissue stop at the end of said firing stroke. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said tissue stop comprises a catch configured to receive at least a portion of said cutting member at the end of said firing stroke. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform said staples, wherein said anvil is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said anvil is configured to contact tissue stop when said anvil reaches said closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said staple cavities are arranged in a row of staple cavities having a proximal row end and a distal row end, and wherein said tissue stop is positioned proximally with respect to said distal row end. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue stop is positioned laterally with respect to at least one staple cavity. 
     
     
         7 . 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.   
     
     
         8 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a third longitudinal row of staple cavities comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         9 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said second longitudinal row of staple cavities comprises a continuous row of staple cavities. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said continuous row of staple cavities comprises a first type of staple cavities having a first width and a second type of staple cavities having a second width, and wherein said second width is wider than said first width. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said second type of staple cavities are positioned intermediate a proximal first type of staple cavity and a distal first type of staple cavity. 
     
     
         12 . 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.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said proximal cluster of staples comprises:
 at least one first staple having a first longitudinal width; and   at least one second staple having a second longitudinal width which is wider than said first longitudinal width.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said intermediate staples have a third longitudinal width which is wider than said first longitudinal width and said second longitudinal width. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical stapling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said distal cluster of staples comprises:
 at least one said first staple; and   at least one said second staple.   
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)