Patent ID: 8727199

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of fastener pushers; an anvil section having an anvil for forming the plurality of fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections configured for clamping tissue therebetween; first and second cam bars movable within the cartridge section to fire the plurality of fasteners; and a cam bar supporting member fixed within the cartridge section and having an upper surface, the first and second cam bars slidable along the upper surface, the upper surface of the cam bar supporting member having a first upper surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion in a second plane oriented parallel in relation to the first plane such that the first and second cam bars slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the plurality of fasteners, wherein the first and second cam bars are of substantially the same height and an overall height of the cam bar on the first upper surface portion in the first plane is greater that an overall height of the cam bar on the second lower surface portion in the second plane, wherein prior to firing, the plurality of fastener pushers are spaced apart from each of the first upper surface portion and second lower surface portion to engage the first and second cam bars, and wherein the plurality of fastener pushers spaced apart from the first upper surface portion have a height that is equal to a height of the plurality of fastener pushers spaced apart from the second lower surface portion.