Patent ID: 7258262

Claim:
A surgical stapler comprising: a) a handle assembly including a fixed handle and a movable handle, the movable handle mounted for manipulation through a plurality of actuating strokes; b) an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) an actuation assembly supported at least partially within the handle assembly and mounted for linear movement in response to movement of the movable handle through the plurality of actuating strokes; d) a staple cartridge supported in a channel adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body and containing a plurality of staples defining at least one staple line having a first linear dimension; e) an anvil mounted adjacent the cartridge, the anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon, the anvil being movable in relation to the staple cartridge between an open position and a closed position; and f) an actuator operatively connected to the actuation assembly, the actuator being configured to move relative to the staple cartridge and anvil to effectuate progressive clamping of the anvil against body tissue and to sequentially eject the staples from the cartridge in response to movement of the movable handle through the actuation strokes, wherein each actuation stroke of the handle effects movement of the actuator over a second linear dimension which is less than the first linear dimension such that a plurality of actuation strokes of the handle are required to eject all of the staples in the at least one staple line from the staple cartridge.