Patent ID: 8360295

Claim:
A surgical stapling device, including: an elongated body portion having proximal and distal portions; and a head portion positioned adjacent the distal portion of the body portion, the head portion including: a shell assembly; and an anvil assembly movable relative to the shell assembly along a longitudinal axis between unapproximated and approximated positions, the anvil assembly including an anvil head and a center rod extending proximally from the anvil head, the center rod including a plurality of receiving structures each configured and dimensioned to receive a flexible member securable to tissue to selectively draw tissue into the shell assembly during approximation of the anvil assembly and the shell assembly, the center rod including a marker positioned between the receiving structures in a location indicating an amount of tissue to be drawn into the shell assembly, the marker being visually distinct from both an outer surface of the center rod, and from the receiving structures.