Patent ID: 7293685

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising: a cartridge half-section; an anvil half-section, said cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a fully clamped position; a replaceable staple cartridge assembly receivable in said cartridge half-section, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical staples abutting a plurality of staple pusher members; and a shipping wedge removably coupled to said cartridge assembly, said shipping wedge being configured and adapted to cover staple rows formed in said cartridge assembly and to cover a slotted track formed between said staple rows, said shipping wedge including a post extending perpendicularly or obliquely from an underside thereof to block movement of a knife retained within said cartridge assembly; and an abutment extending perpendicularly or obliquely from an upper surface thereof to cover at least a portion of a distal edge of said knife.