Patent ID: 7866527

Claim:
A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a handle assembly including a movable handle and a stationary handle housing, the movable handle being movable through actuation strokes relative to said stationary handle housing; an actuation shaft supported at least in part within said stationary handle housing and mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of said movable handle through said actuation strokes; a control rod assembly having a proximal end interfacing with said actuation shaft, said control rod assembly protruding distally from said handle housing and having a distal end configured to be operably attached to a disposable loading unit; a firing lock out assembly supported at least in part within said stationary handle housing and configured to selectively prevent longitudinal movement of said actuation shaft in a distal direction; and a firing release trigger supported on said movable handle for travel therewith and interfacing with said firing lockout assembly to selectively release said firing lockout assembly to permit said actuation shaft to move longitudinally in said distal direction upon manipulation of said movable handle.