Patent ID: 7695485

Claim:
A surgical device, comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw, the second jaw mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end; a cutting element disposed within and rotatable relative to the second jaw and having an actuating member receiving face; and a first driver configured to move the cutting element proximally from an initial position at the distal end of the second jaw toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws, a fixed actuating member fixed relative to the second jaw and adjacent to the actuating member receiving face of the cutting element, such that the actuating member receiving face engages the fixed actuating member during proximal movement of the cutting element, so as to cause the cutting element to rotate about a central pivot, wherein the cutting element is in a retracted position in the initial position with a cutting edge of the cutting element unexposed to prevent cutting of the section of tissue, and is rotatable to an unretracted position with the cutting edge of the cutting element exposed to cut the section of tissue.