Patent ID: 8132703

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a firing trigger and a firing indicator, the firing trigger being movable between a first non-actuated position and a second actuated position, the firing trigger including engagement structure; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly; and a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions; wherein the engagement structure of the firing trigger moves the firing indicator from a first position to a second position when the firing trigger is moved from its first non-actuated position toward its second actuated position, and wherein the firing indicator includes a pawl, the firing trigger being configured to engage the pawl when the firing trigger is moved from its first non-actuated position toward its second actuated position.