Patent ID: 8727200

Claim:
A surgical stapler, comprising: a housing; an elongated member attached to the housing; a tool assembly attachable to the distal end of the elongated member, said tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly each having an opposing tissue engaging surface, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical fasteners; a moveable handle pivotally coupled to said housing and selectively movable relative thereto between a first position in spaced relation relative to said housing and a second position closer to said housing to translate a lead screw distally to move the opposing tissue engaging surfaces into a closed position for clamping tissue therebetween; a selectively activatable drive assembly including an actuation shaft, said actuation shaft being mechanically engaged with the lead screw such that upon selective activation of said drive assembly, said actuation shaft rotates said lead screw to advance a firing shaft and actuate said tool assembly to force a firing piston into said tool assembly to deform the surgical fasteners through and fasten tissue.