Patent ID: 7819896

Claim:
A tool assembly comprising: an anvil and a cartridge assembly, the cartridge assembly having a plurality of fasteners and being movable in relation to the anvil between a spaced position and an approximated position, the cartridge assembly and anvil defining a tissue gap in the approximated position; a clamp member positioned adjacent a proximal end of the cartridge assembly and the anvil and being movable from a first position to a second position, the clamp member being configured to maintain the proximal end of the cartridge assembly and the anvil in juxtaposed alignment when the clamp member is in the second position; a dynamic clamping member movably positioned in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly, the dynamic clamping member being movable from a first position to a second position and configured to define a maximum tissue gap between the cartridge assembly and the anvil adjacent the dynamic clamping member during ejection of the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge assembly; and a drive member operably connected to the clamp member and the dynamic clamping member, the drive member being formed from a coaxial cable and being movable to move the clamp member and the dynamic clamping member between their first and second positions, the drive member including an outer sheath connected to the clamp member and a center rod connected to the dynamic clamping member.