Patent ID: 7617961

Claim:
A tool assembly comprising: a pair of jaws including a first jaw and a second jaw, each of the jaws having a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second jaws being movable in relation to the other; first and second cam followers supported on the first jaw; and an approximation member including at least one cam surface positioned to engage the first and second cam followers, the approximation member being movable through an actuating stroke to move the at least one cam surface in relation to the first and second cam followers; wherein the approximation member is movable to move the at least one cam surface in relation to the first and second cam followers to effect movement of the first jaw to approximate a distal end of the first jaw with the second jaw in a first portion of the actuating stroke, to subsequently move the distal end of the first jaw away from the second jaw in a second portion of the actuating stroke, and to subsequently bring together the first jaw and the second jaw in substantially parallel closure in a third portion of the actuating stroke.