US Patent 8469254 Surgical instrument having a drive assembly

A surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, an elongate member extending from the handle assembly, a loading unit extending from the elongate member, a drive assembly operatively associated with the handle assembly and configured to translate through the loading unit upon actuation of the handle assembly, the drive assembly including a drive beam and an end member projecting distally from the drive beam, wherein a portion of the end member has a different thickness than the drive beam and a first jaw and a second jaw extending from the loading unit and operatively coupled to the drive assembly, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw movable in response to translation of the drive assembly.