SURGICAL STAPLER WITH PROGRESSIVELY DRIVEN ASYMMETRIC ALTERNATING STAPLE DRIVERS

摘要

A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a deck, a plurality of staples, a first driver assembly, and a second driver assembly. The staples are positioned within corresponding openings formed through the deck. The first driver assembly is positioned on a first row centerline. The first driver is asymmetric about the first row centerline and is configured to drive a first portion of the plurality of staples. The second driver assembly is also positioned on the first row centerline. The second driver assembly is asymmetric about the first row centerline and is configured to drive a second portion of the plurality of staples. The first and second driver assemblies alternate such that the first and second driver assemblies overlap in a direction transverse to the first row centerline for forming offset and overlapping staple rows in tissue.