Patent ID: 8157149

Claim:
An end effector assembly operatively connected to a handle of a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: a first member having an underside, a topside, and a channel defined in the topside of the first member; a retention member disposed within the channel of the first member and configured to translate longitudinally through the channel between a first position and a second position, the retention member including at least one flexible arm, the at least one flexible arm transitionable between a constrained condition and an expanded condition when the retention member is translated from the first position to the second position, wherein the retention member maintains a strip of buttress material positioned against a face of the first member when the retention member is in the second position and releases the strip of buttress material when the retention member is in the first position; and a follower disposed within the channel of the first member and translatable through the channel, the follower configured to engage the retention member to transition the retention member from the expanded condition to the constrained condition.