Patent ID: 8348126

Claim:
An end effector assembly operatively connectable to a handle of a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: a cartridge assembly; and an anvil assembly disposed in juxtaposed relation to the cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly including: an anvil member having a tissue contacting surface, the anvil member defining a plurality of staple forming pockets in the tissue contacting surface; a strip of buttress material disposed against the tissue contracting surface and overlying at least some of the staple forming pockets; a retention component extending across a surface of the strip of buttress material, the retention component including at least one end extending into the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member; and a retention member slidably supported adjacent the anvil member, the retention member including: a retaining position, wherein the retention member engages the at least one end of the retention component against a surface of the anvil member to secure the strip of buttress material to the anvil member; and a releasing position, wherein the retention member disengages from the at least one end of the retention component to free the strip of buttress material from the anvil member; wherein the retention member is moved from the retaining position to the release position during a firing of the surgical instrument.