Patent ID: 8025198

Claim:
A surgical instrument for creating an anastomosis, which comprises: a housing; a handle extending from the housing; a first fastener support member and a second fastener support member extending distally from the housing, the first fastener support member and the second fastener support member being laterally moveable toward and away from one another and being configured and dimensioned to releasably support a plurality of surgical fasteners; a tissue retaining mechanism associated with the first fastener support member and second fastener support member, the tissue retaining mechanism being selectively movable from a first position relative to the first fastener support member and the second fastener support member to a second position in closer proximity with the first fastener support member and the second fastener support member such that tissue disposed adjacent the first fastener support member and the second fastener support member is retained thereagainst; and a fastener firing mechanism associated with the first fastener support member and second fastener support member, the fastener firing mechanism including a pusher mechanism, the pusher mechanism being relatively movable in response to actuation of the handle to simultaneously deform the plurality of surgical fasteners.