Patent ID: 8056788

Claim:
A surgical stapler, comprising: a handle assembly including a movable handle; an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a staple cartridge supported by the elongated body and containing a plurality of staples; an anvil mounted adjacent the staple cartridge, the anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon and a slot at a distal end thereof, the anvil and staple cartridge being movable in relation to one another between an open and a closed position; an actuation assembly including an actuation member, the movable handle being arranged to effect longitudinal movement of the actuation member; and a drive assembly arranged to be driven in a distal direction by the actuation member, the drive assembly having an upper end for engaging the anvil, the upper end dropping through the anvil slot when the upper end reaches the distal end of its travel.