Patent ID: 8328064

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle portion; an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion; an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, the end effector including a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members dimensioned to clamp tissue therebetween, the first jaw member having at least one row of fasteners arranged in a row substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis; first and second pins disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member, each pin including an engagement section, the first and second pins movable between a first position wherein the engagement section is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position wherein the engagement section engages the second jaw member, wherein each pin has a semi-circular cross-section, the first and second pins spaced from each other; and a knife movable between distal and proximal portions, the knife having an upper edge terminating alongside the first pin and a lower edge terminating alongside the second pin, a planar surface of the first pin located on a first side of the knife and a planar surface of the second pin located on a second side of the knife that is opposite the first side such that the planar surfaces of the pins are oriented towards each other.