Patent ID: 8181837

Claim:
A surgical stapler having a distal end onto which a tool assembly having a pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces can be mounted for deforming a plurality of surgical fasteners through and fasten tissue, the surgical stapler comprising: a housing having a fixed handle; a clamping handle mounted to said housing and selectively movable relative to said fixed handle from a first position in spaced relation relative to said fixed handle to a second position closer to said fixed handle to manually actuate the pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces for clamping tissue therebetween; an adapter yoke mechanically coupled to said clamping handle such that movement of said clamping handle from the first position to the second position translates said adapter yoke within said housing, said adapter yoke in mechanical cooperation with a lead screw to actuate the tool assembly to clamp tissue; and a drive assembly including a shaft, said shaft being mechanically engaged with said lead screw such that upon selective activation of said drive assembly, said shaft rotates said lead screw to advance a roll nut distally along said lead screw to force a firing piston into a tool assembly when mounted on the housing to deform the surgical fasteners through and fastening the tissue.