Patent ID: 8893949

Claim:
A surgical stapler configured to receive a staple cartridge comprising staples, said surgical stapler comprising: a handle, comprising: a trigger; and a firing assembly, wherein said trigger is configured to actuate said firing assembly; a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a knife bar operably coupled with said firing assembly, wherein said knife bar comprises: a cam; and a cutting edge; and an end effector, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end; a support jaw, comprising: a support surface configured to support the staple cartridge, wherein said support surface defines a support plane and a plurality of stationary staple drivers; and a displacement guide defined along an axis transverse to said support plane; and an anvil jaw, comprising: a follower slidably received within said displacement guide; and an anvil surface configured to deform the staples, wherein said cam of said knife bar is configured to contact said anvil jaw and drive said anvil surface toward said support surface when said knife bar is moved from said proximal end toward said distal end of said end effector, and wherein said displacement guide comprises a vertical slot, and wherein said follower comprises a peg slidably received within said slot.