Patent ID: 8061577

Claim:
A surgical stapling device, comprising: a tool assembly, including: an anvil; a cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples; a dynamic clamping member, the dynamic clamping member having an upper flange for engaging the anvil and a lower flange for engaging the cartridge assembly, the anvil and cartridge assembly being movable in relation to each other between open and clamped positions; a sled slidably positioned to translate through the cartridge assembly to eject the staples from the cartridge assembly, the dynamic clamping member being positioned proximally of the sled in engagement therewith and translatable through the cartridge assembly; a clamp ring movable from a retracted position to an advanced position encircling proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly from exceeding a predetermined distance; a drive mechanism for advancing the clamp ring and dynamic clamping member; wherein the drive mechanism includes a flexible member attached to the dynamic clamping member and movable distally to advance the dynamic clamping member distally through the cartridge assembly and a sheath positioned about the flexible member, the sheath being connected to the clamp ring.