Patent ID: 7658312

Claim:
A surgical instrument with articulated jaw structure for capturing tissue of a body, comprising: an elongated tubular frame defining a longitudinal axis; a fixed jaw defining a jaw axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the fixed jaw having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being rigidly mounted to the tubular frame; a movable jaw having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the movable jaw being supported on a distal end of the tubular frame and being axially movable in relation to the tubular frame, the moveable jaw supporting a tissue contacting surface thereon, wherein the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw include a staple cartridge and an anvil; means for connecting the jaws to permit the movable jaw to move between an open position wherein the distal portions of the jaws are spaced apart from each other and the movable jaw is extended distally relative to the fixed jaw and an approximated position wherein the distal portions of the jaws are closer together and the movable jaw is substantially unextended relative to the fixed jaw such that the tissue contacting surface supported on the moveable jaw draws tissue proximally into the gap between the jaws as the moveable jaw is moved from the open position to the approximated position; and an actuating mechanism for operating the connecting means, the actuating mechanism extending through the tubular frame.