Patent ID: 7543731

Claim:
An endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a) an elongate endoscopic body portion defining a longitudinal axis; b) a staple applying assembly including: i) a staple cartridge having rows of surgical staples extending in a longitudinal direction of the staple cartridge; and ii) an anvil member having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil member being movable between an open position wherein at least a portion of the staple forming surface is spaced from the staple cartridge and a closed position wherein the staple forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with the staple cartridge; iii) the staple applying assembly being pivotally mounted about a pivot point adjacent a distal end of the body portion and pivotable from a first position in which the rows of surgical staples are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to a second articulated position in which the rows of surgical staples are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis; and c) a pivot member connected to the staple applying assembly and the body portion, the pivot member being connected to the body portion at the pivot point.