Patent ID: 7225963

Claim:
A surgical apparatus comprising: a housing including an elongate body extending therefrom; and a loading unit supportable on a distal end of the housing, the loading unit including: a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end; a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit; and a locking mechanism pivotally supported on the housing portion of the loading unit at a pivot point, the locking mechanism having a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages a portion of the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly relative to the housing portion of the loading unit, and the locking mechanism having a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion, wherein the locking mechanism is configured for pivotal movement from the first position to the second position, in a radial direction, with respect to the housing portion of the loading unit in response to a connection of the loading unit to the elongate body of the housing.