Patent ID: 7980443

Claim:
A disposable loading unit for a surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a staple cartridge carrier configured to operably support a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge carrier comprises a carrier outer surface; an anvil comprising at least one staple deforming cavity, wherein said anvil is rotatably movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said anvil comprises an anvil outer surface; and a sleeve comprising: a longitudinal axis; a distal end; an aperture, wherein said sleeve is configured to be slid along said carrier outer surface and said anvil outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of said staple cartridge carrier and said anvil are configured to be positioned within said aperture such that said sleeve can hold said anvil in said second position; a first slot extending along said longitudinal axis on a first side of said sleeve, wherein said first slot comprises: a first open end opening toward said distal end; and a first closed proximal end; a second slot extending along a second side of said sleeve, wherein said second slot is aligned with said first slot, and wherein said second slot comprises: a second open end opening toward said distal end; and a second closed proximal end; and a staple cartridge positioned within said staple cartridge carrier, wherein said staple cartridge and said anvil define a tissue gap therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said first slot and said second slot are aligned with said tissue gap.