Patent ID: 7731073

Claim:
A surgical stapler comprising: a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator positioned at the proximal end of the shaft; a staple pusher extending longitudinally along the shaft and movable longitudinally with respect to the shaft; and a jaw assembly positioned at the distal end of the shaft, the jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw; and a second jaw opposite the first jaw and movable with respect to the first jaw to define an open configuration of the jaw assembly wherein the first jaw is spaced apart from the second jaw and a closed configuration of the jaw assembly wherein the first jaw is adjacent the first jaw; wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the staple pusher and operatively coupled to the jaw assembly such that from an open configuration of the jaw assembly, a first actuation stroke of the actuator advances the jaw assembly to the closed configuration and a second actuation stroke of the actuator advances the staple pusher longitudinally distally with respect to the shaft; and wherein the jaw assembly further comprises a capture member positioned at least partially in the second jaw and extendable towards the first jaw between a retracted position and an extended position and wherein the capture member is moved from the retracted position to the extended position during the capture portion of the first actuation stroke of the actuator.