Patent attributes
A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an anvil section and a cartridge section, where the cartridge section and the anvil section are movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to clamp tissue therebetween. The cartridge section has a plurality of retention slots. A plurality of first surgical fasteners and a plurality of second surgical fasteners are disposed within a corresponding retention slot. The plurality of first surgical fasteners has a first backspan with a first configuration and the plurality of second surgical fasteners has a second backspan with a second configuration. The first configuration is different from the second configuration. In addition, when the first configuration applies a first compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of first surgical fasteners and the second configuration applies a second compressive force to tissue upon formation of the plurality of second surgical fasteners, the second compressive force is different from the first compressive force.