Patent attributes
An instrument including a clamping jaw with an anvil defining an elongated slot and staple forming cups on opposing sides of the elongated slot. A housing rotatably mounts on the anvil and a pusher rotatably mounts within the housing. A handle actuates the clamping jaw from the open to the intermediate position by rotating the housing towards the clamping jaw. To move from the intermediate position to the closed position, the pusher rotates towards the anvil. A staple cartridge, disposed in the housing, includes a staple track for retaining two rows of staples on opposing sides of the elongated slot. Two staple drivers align with the distal most staples. The drivers slidably mount in the staple cartridge and couple to the pusher such that each staple driver forces a staple into the forming cups and, in turn, staples the body tissue as the pusher rotates from the intermediate to closed position. A knife rotatably mounts on the staple cartridge and couples to the pusher such that the knife passes into the elongated slot and, in turn, cuts the body tissue as the pusher rotates from the intermediate to closed position.
