Patent ID: 7334718

Claim:
A stapling unit for an endolumenal stapling system comprising: a housing including a substantially tubular wall and a distal end cap, the housing being slidably coupleable to an endoscope for advancement therealong, the tubular wall including a window extending therethrough with an anvil formed on a first edge of the window, the housing further including a stapling apparatus mounted within the housing for movement between a stapling position in which a staple firing surface of the stapling apparatus is adjacent to the anvil and a tissue receiving position in which the staple firing surface is separated from the anvil to open the window and expose a tissue receiving cavity within an interior of the housing, the staple firing apparatus driving a staple across the staple firing surface through tissue in the tissue receiving cavity; and a tissue grasping mechanism extendible through the window for drawing tissue through the window into the tissue receiving cavity.