A surgical stapler comprises: a first jaw adapted to receive a staple cartridge in a distal end of the first jaw, the staple cartridge containing a plurality of individual surgical staples, and a working surface with a plurality of staple slots formed therein a second jaw having a staple anvil in a distal end of the second jaw, such that during the operation of the surgical stapler the staple cartridge and the staple anvil can be approximated relative to each other a driving member for firing the surgical staples from the staple slots and against the approximated staple anvil and a tissue cauterizing system operatively associated with the staple cartridge for enhancing one or more properties of adjacent layers of body tissue to be repaired or joined by the surgical stapler. The tissue cauterizing system includes a plurality of deployable needles each having a tip. The needles are adapted and disposed in the cartridge such that their tips can be extended out of the working surface of the staple cartridge to penetrate at least a layer of the adjacent layers of body tissue and to deliver electrosurgical energy to the body tissue during at least one of before, after and concomitant with firing of the surgical stapler.
