Patent ID: 7766209

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side; a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge having at least two rows of staples stored therein, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and the staple cartridge is configured to slidably support a staple driver configured to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge; a second jaw member configured to operably support an anvil configured to deform the staples when the staples are deployed from the staple cartridge; a pusher bar configured to move the staple driver relative to said first jaw member and said second jaw member; and an actuator knob configured to receive a force thereto, wherein said actuator knob is rotatably mounted to said pusher bar, wherein said actuator knob is configured to be rotated between a first position and a second position, wherein said actuator knob is configured to be moved along said first side when said actuator knob, is in said first position, and wherein said actuator knob is configured to be moved along said second side when said actuator knob is in said second position, wherein said housing further comprises: a first slot defined within said first side, wherein said actuator knob is configured to slide within said first slot when said actuator knob is in said first position; a second slot defined within said second side, wherein said actuator knob is configured to slide within said second slot when said actuator knob is in said second position; and a third slot connecting said first slot and said second slot, wherein said actuator knob is configured to slide within said third slot to selectively move said actuator knob between said first position and said second position.