Patent ID: 7934628

Claim:
A surgical stapling device comprising: an elongated body portion defining a longitudinal axis; a tool assembly pivotally supported at the distal end of the elongated body portion about a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion, the tool assembly including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly housing a plurality of staples, the anvil assembly being movably mounted in relation to the cartridge assembly between open and closed positions; a flexible drive assembly having a distal end configured to translate through the cartridge assembly to eject the staples therefrom, the flexible drive assembly being bendable relative to the longitudinal axis when the tool assembly pivots in a first direction; and a first support member positioned adjacent the pivot axis on a side of the flexible drive assembly, the first support member having a first end fixedly attached to the tool assembly and a second end fixedly attached to the elongated body portion, the first support member lengthening when the tool assembly pivots, wherein the first support member includes a U-shaped portion that flexes when the tool assembly pivots and a limit member positioned about the U-shaped portion to limit the extent to which the U-shaped portion can flex.