Staple cartridge assembly comprising various tissue compression gaps and staple forming gaps

Abstract

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a deck; and 
 a staple cavity defined in said deck; and 
   a bioabsorbable staple removably stored in said staple cavity, wherein said staple comprises a frame including a base and legs extending from said base, wherein said frame comprises magnesium, and wherein said frame further comprises:
 a first zone comprising a first hardness; 
 a second zone comprising a second hardness, wherein said first hardness and said second hardness are different; and 
 a third zone comprising a third hardness, wherein said third hardness is greater than said first hardness and greater than said second hardness, and wherein said base comprises said third zone. 
   
     
     
         22 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said legs comprise said first zone. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein said frame comprises a leg bend portion connecting one of said legs to said base, wherein said leg bend portion comprises said second zone, and wherein said first hardness is greater than said second hardness. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein said frame comprises tips extending from said legs, wherein said tips comprise said second zone, and wherein said first hardness is less than said second hardness. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein each of said legs comprises a first ductility, wherein said base comprises a second ductility, and wherein said first ductility and said second ductility are different. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein each of said legs comprises a leg body portion and a leg corner, wherein said leg body portion comprises said first zone, and wherein said leg corner comprises said second zone. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein each of said legs comprises a first leg corner and a second leg corner, wherein said first leg corner comprises said first zone, and wherein said second leg corner comprises said second zone. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said first zone and said second zone are configured to create a preferential bending plane when said staple is formed against an anvil. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein said first zone and said second zone are configured to elude magnesium ions faster than said third zone after implanting said staple into patient tissue. 
     
     
         30 . A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a deck; and 
 a staple cavity defined in said deck; and 
   a bioabsorbable staple removably stored in said staple cavity, wherein said staple comprises a frame including a base and legs extending from said base, wherein said frame comprises magnesium, and wherein said frame further comprises:
 a first zone comprising a first hardness; and 
 a second zone comprising a second hardness, wherein said first hardness is less than said second hardness. 
   
     
     
         31 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein each of said legs comprises said first zone and said base comprises said second zone. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein each of said legs comprises a leg bend portion connecting said leg to said base, and wherein said leg bend portion of said legs comprises said first zone. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said frame comprises tips extending from said legs, wherein said legs comprises said first zone, and wherein said tips comprise said second zone. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein each of said legs comprises a leg body portion and a leg corner portion, wherein said leg body portion comprises said first zone, and wherein said leg corner said second zone. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein each of said legs comprises a first corner and a second corner, wherein said first corner comprises said first zone, and wherein said second corner comprises said second zone. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said frame comprises a third zone comprising a third hardness, wherein said third hardness is different than said first hardness and said second hardness, and wherein said base comprises said third zone. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said first zone comprises a first ductility, wherein said second zone comprises a second ductility, and wherein said first ductility and said second ductility are different. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said first zone and said second zone are configured to create a preferential bending plane when said staple is formed against an anvil. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said first zone is configured to elude magnesium ions faster than said second zone after implanting said staple into patient tissue. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical staple cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body, comprising:
 a deck; and 
 a staple cavity defined in said deck; and 
   a bioabsorbable staple removably stored in said staple cavity, wherein said staple comprises a frame including a base and legs extending from said base, wherein said frame comprises magnesium, and wherein said frame further comprises:
 a first zone comprising a first ductility; and 
 a second zone comprising a second ductility; wherein said first ductility and said second ductility are different. 
   
     
     
         41 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 40 , wherein each of said legs comprises said first zone and said base comprises said second zone. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 41 , wherein said first ductility is greater than said second ductility.