Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a jaw clamping mechanism which applies clamping forces to its jaw members to resist the forces exerted on the anvil and staple cartridge carrying portions of the jaw members when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife blade assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis. The stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife blade assembly is slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members to sequentially drive the staples from the cartridge and form the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows of formed staples in tissue gripped between the jaw members and to cut the tissue along a line between the staple rows. A latching mechanism is operable to a partially latched position in which the jaw members are loosely connected together to permit the staple cartridge and anvil to be adjusted in position on the tissue without disconnecting the jaw members from each other.