Patent ID: 8328061

Claim:
A surgical instrument configured to join tissue, comprising: a handle assembly including an actuator member; an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a first longitudinal axis; an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, the end effector having a pair of first and second jaw members defining a gap therebetween, at least one of the first and second jaw members being pivotably movable from an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position wherein each of the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue, each of the first and second jaw members being elongate and defining a second longitudinal axis and each of the first and second jaw members including a respective longitudinal track; an actuation assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector, wherein actuation of the actuator member causes at least a portion of the actuation assembly to translate from a distal portion of the end effector towards a proximal portion of the end effector through the tracks in the first and second jaw members; the first jaw member having a surgical stapling cartridge and a distal end extending transversely to the second longitudinal axis at least partially enclosing the gap between the first jaw member and second jaw member; and a lock for locking the first jaw member to the second jaw member.