Patent ID: 8070033

Claim:
A surgical apparatus comprising: a handle assembly; an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a tool assembly supported at the distal end of the elongated body and being pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the elongated body, the tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples; a flexible drive member extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis, the drive member having a distal end which is movable in relation to the tool assembly to actuate the tool assembly, the drive member being configured as a beam; and a blow out member having a proximal end positioned on one side of the drive member and extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis, the blow out member having a planar surface adjacent to the pivot axis such that the at least one blow-out member is positioned to inhibit outward bulging of the flexible drive member.