Patent ID: 7600663

Claim:
An instrument for stapling and cutting body tissue comprising: a) a handle portion for actuating and controlling placement of the instrument; b) a pusher housing having a proximal end coupled to the handle portion, the pusher housing defining a pusher axial passage having a hollow; c) a primary pusher slidably received in the pusher axial passage, the primary pusher having a cam surface; d) an anvil assembly having an arm coupling to the pusher housing and a base located on a distal end of the aim; e) a cartridge body slidably mounted on the arm, the body including a distal face and a proximal face, the body defining an axial bore and at least one staple passage; f) a cam follower extending from the proximal face; g) a release cam block upstanding from the primary pusher; h) a knife blade coupled to the primary pusher for sliding movement in the axial bore; and i) at least one staple in the at least one axial staple passage, wherein in an open position, the handle portion is used to place tissue in between the anvil base and the distal face of the cartridge body, in an intermediate position, the handle portion has actuated the primary pusher such that the cam surface has moved the cam follower into a locked position in the hollow and, thereby, the tissue is clamped, and in a fastened and cut position, the handle portion has further actuated the primary pusher such that the staple has been driven and formed in the tissue and the knife blade has cut the tissue against the anvil base, and wherein as the primary pusher returns to the open position, the release cam block dislodges the cam follower from the hollow to allow the cartridge body to move.