Patent ID: 7967180

Claim:
A surgical apparatus, comprising: a handle assembly; an elongate body having proximal and distal ends and extending distally from the handle assembly to define a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a drive member extending therethrough; and a loading unit releasably supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate body, the disposable loading unit including: a staple cartridge having surgical staples; a drive assembly arranged for longitudinal movement relative to the staple cartridge to facilitate ejection of the surgical staples therefrom; and a locking mechanism configured and dimensioned for selective disengagement from the drive assembly to permit movement thereof, the locking mechanism being repositionable between an initial position, wherein the locking mechanism is in engagement with the drive assembly of the disposable loading unit to inhibit movement thereof, and a subsequent position, wherein the locking mechanism allows for movement of the drive assembly of the disposable loading unit, the locking mechanism including a pivot member with first and second ends and a pivot point between the first and second ends, wherein the distal end of the elongate body includes a cam surface configured and dimensioned to urge the locking mechanism towards the subsequent position upon relative rotation between the loading unit and the elongate body.