Patent ID: 8286848

Claim:
A surgical stapling device comprising: an elongated body portion defining a longitudinal axis; a tool assembly pivotally supported at the distal end of the elongated body portion about a pivot axis, the tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly housing a plurality of staples, the anvil assembly and cartridge assembly being movably mounted in relation to one another between open and closed positions; the cartridge assembly including a plurality of pushers corresponding to the plurality of staples, and a sled having cam wedges for interacting with the pushers to drive the plurality of staples toward the anvil assembly, at least some of the cam wedges being offset with respect to at least some other cam wedges; a flexible drive assembly having a distal end configured to translate through the cartridge assembly to eject the staples therefrom, the flexible drive assembly being bendable relative to the longitudinal axis when the tool assembly pivots; a first support member positioned adjacent the pivot axis on a side of the flexible drive assembly, the first support member having a first end fixedly attached to the tool assembly and a second end fixedly attached to the elongated body portion; and a second support member on an opposite side of the flexible drive assembly, the second support member lengthening when the tool assembly pivots in a second direction.