Patent ID: 8113409

Claim:
A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a handle assembly; an elongate portion extending distally from the handle assembly; and an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongate portion, the end effector comprising: an anvil assembly including a fastener forming surface thereon; a cartridge assembly including a fastener ejection surface thereon through which surgical fasteners may be ejected, at least one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly being movable with respect to the other between an open position wherein the cartridge assembly is substantially spaced from the anvil assembly and a closed position where the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly are closer together; and a clamping assembly including a first clamping surface deployable to extend laterally from the fastener forming surface of the anvil assembly, and a second clamping surface deployable to extend laterally from the fastener ejection surface of the cartridge assembly such that, when deployed, the first and second clamping surfaces oppose one another when the cartridge assembly is in the closed position.