Patent ID: 8136711

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising: an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends; an end effector positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, the end effector including a first jaw movably coupled to a second jaw such that target tissue is positionable therebetween, one of the first jaw and the second jaw terminating in a dissector tip; a connector member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being configured and dimensioned for releasable engagement with the end effector at the dissector tip; and an introducer member having proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion being configured and dimensioned for releasable engagement with the connector member, the introducer member being configured and dimensioned to separate the target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector, the connector member being formed from a first material, and the introducer member being formed from a second material, the first material being more rigid than the second material.