Patent ID: 7699205

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising: an anvil half-section defining a longitudinal axis and a tissue contacting surface, the anvil half-section including a distal end, a proximal end, and side walls having a height; a cartridge receiving half-section including a distal end, the cartridge receiving half-section being operatively couplable with the anvil half-section such that the distal end of the anvil half-section is in juxtaposed relation to the distal end of the cartridge receiving half-section; and a deflection control system operatively associated with the anvil half-section, wherein the deflection control system reinforces the distal end of the anvil half-section when a force is applied to the distal end of the anvil half-section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and normal to a plane defined by the tissue contacting surface of the anvil half-section, a proximal end of the deflection control system extending proximally to at least a pivot point for the anvil half-section and the cartridge receiving half-section, the deflection control system including at least one reinforcing member defining a height and being disposed in the distal end of the anvil half-section, the reinforcing member including a plurality of plates slidably disposed adjacent one another, wherein at least one of the plurality of plates defines a thickness that is different from a thickness of at least one other of the plurality of plates.