Patent ID: 7588176

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: an elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge assembly therein; a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly; at least one cable operably interfacing with said knife assembly and a cable drive system for driving said knife assembly within said elongate channel assembly; an anvil assembly movably coupled to said elongate channel assembly and being movable between open and closed positions; and a closure tube assembly operably supported adjacent said elongate channel assembly for selectively applying a closing motion to said anvil assembly upon application of a pushing motion to said closure tube assembly, said closure tube assembly comprising: a proximal closure tube segment interfacing with said closure tube drive system; and a distal closure tube segment pivotally coupled to said proximal closure tube segment for selective pivotal travel about at least two axes that are orthogonal to each other relative to said proximal closure tube segment and oriented for selective contact with said anvil assembly to transfer said closing motion thereto.