Patent ID: 7909223

Claim:
A fluid-actuated endoscopic tissue fastening instrument, comprising: an elongate shaft having a flexible distal portion and a proximal portion; a head mounted to the distal portion of the shaft, the head comprising a fastener housing and an anvil housing, said housings defining a region therebetween where tissue can be received, the fastener housing having a hydraulic chamber disposed within the fastener housing, a compression piston at least partially disposed within the hydraulic chamber for movement therein, a second chamber disposed within the compression piston, a staple piston at least partially disposed within the second chamber for movement therein, a fastener holder carrying at least one fastener, the fastener holder being attached to the compression piston for movement therewith in the fastener housing, and a fluid line extending through said shaft and fluidly coupled to the hydraulic chamber and the second chamber in said fastener housing, wherein the compression piston and attached fastener holder is advanceable within the hydraulic chamber in response to flow of fluid from the fluid line into the hydraulic chamber to advance the fastener holder against tissue disposed between the two housings, and the staple piston is advanceable within the second chamber in response to fluid flow of fluid from the fluid line into the second chamber to advance the at least one fastener from the fastener holder into tissue disposed between the two housings.