Patent ID: 6953139

Claim:
A surgical apparatus comprising: a handle assembly; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a first longitudinal axis; a tool assembly pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion about a pivot axis substantially orthogonal to the first longitudinal axis, the tool assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and being movable between a first position in which the second longitudinal axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis to a second position in which the second longitudinal axis is positioned at an angle to the first longitudinal axis; a flexible drive member extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis, the drive member having a distal end which is movable in relation to the tool assembly to actuate the tool assembly; and at least one flexible planar blow out plate having a proximal end positioned on one side of the drive member and extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis, the at least one planar blow out plate having a planar surface substantially parallel to the pivot axis such that the at least one blow-out plate is positioned to inhibit outward bulging of the flexible drive member.