Patent ID: 7210609

Claim:
An actuating portion of a surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a fixed jaw part including a non-linear anvil defining staple-forming pockets arranged in at least one row extending from one side of said anvil to an opposite side of said anvil, and a curved planar portion having a curved part and two rigid struts extending longitudinally from and being homogeneous with said curved part, each of said struts aligning with a respective one of sides of said anvil to thereby provide rigid longitudinal support for said anvil at two separate locations with said at least one row of staple-forming pockets of said anvil between said two locations, said struts defining an opening there between; and an actuating jaw part including a non-linear staple driver having a plurality of tines adapted to align with staple blanks in a staple cartridge, said actuating jaw part being arranged to actuate and cause said tines of said staple driver to force the staple blanks into said pockets of said anvil to thereby form staples in tissue retained in said opening.