Patent ID: 8317073

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a firing trigger and a firing indicator, the firing trigger being movable between a first non-actuated position and a second actuated position, the firing trigger including engagement structure extending from a proximal region of the firing trigger; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly; a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the anvil assembly being movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions; an approximation mechanism for moving the anvil assembly between spaced and approximated positions; and a firing mechanism for firing fasteners from the shell assembly, wherein the firing indicator is movable independent of movement of the approximation mechanism, and the engagement structure of the firing trigger moves the firing indicator from a first position to a second position when the firing trigger is moved from its first non-actuated position toward its second actuated position.