Patent ID: 8684251

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising: a head assembly including a body; an anvil rod configured and dimensioned for slidable insertion into the body of the head assembly; and an anvil attached to a distal end of the anvil rod, wherein the anvil rod includes three annular grooves formed in an outer surface thereof arranged in perpendicular relation to a longitudinal axis of the anvil rod, the grooves being spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the anvil rod such that a portion of the outer surface of the anvil rod is positioned between adjacent grooves, the grooves being arranged at varying distances from the anvil, and being configured and dimensioned to selectively receive a portion of mucosa to be tied around the anvil rod in a purse string suture such that varying amounts of mucosa can be drawn into the body of the head assembly during approximation of the head assembly and the anvil dependent upon the groove to which the mucosa is secured.