Patent ID: 7278562

Claim:
A surgical stapler, comprising: a) a handle assembly including a movable handle mounted for manipulation through an actuating stroke; b) an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) an actuation assembly supported at least partially within the handle assembly and mounted for linear movement in response to movement of the movable handle through the actuating stroke, the actuation assembly including a rack and the movable handle is operatively connected to a pawl configured to engage the rack to advance the rack in a distal direction in response to manipulation of the movable handle, the rack being biased in a proximal direction; d) a staple cartridge supported in a channel adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body and containing a plurality of staples defining at least one staple line having a first linear dimension; e) an anvil mounted adjacent the cartridge, the anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon, the anvil being movable in relation to the staple cartridge between an open position and a closed position; and f) an actuator operatively connected to the actuation assembly, the actuator being configured to move relative to the staple cartridge and anvil to sequentially eject the staples from the cartridge in response to movement of the movable handle through the actuation stroke, more than one actuating stroke being required to eject all of the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge.