Surgical stapling device with parallel jaw closure

A surgical stapling device comprising:

• a handle assembly including a stationary handle;
• an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly;
• and
• a tool assembly supported on the distal portion of the elongate body, the tool assembly including:
• an anvil including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a central knife slot and including a staple forming surface, the proximal portion of the body including spaced side walls defining an anvil cavity, each of the side walls supporting a distal pivot member and a proximal pivot member, the distal pivot member longitudinally spaced from the proximal pivot member, the distal and proximal pivot members extending from the respective side walls of the channel member into the anvil cavity;
• a cartridge assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member including side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge, each of the side walls of the channel member having a proximal portion that defines first and second slots, the first and second slots defining axes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge assembly, the first slots being longitudinally spaced from the second slots, each of the first slots receiving a respective one of the distal pivot members, and each of the second slots receiving a respective one of the proximal pivot members, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position;
• and
• a drive member including a beam portion and a working end, the drive member movable in relation to the anvil and the cartridge assembly from a retracted position to an intermediate position and subsequently to a clamped position to move the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil from the open position to the clamped position, wherein the first and second slots are configured such that movement of the drive member from the retracted position to the intermediate position pivots the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil into parallel alignment with the anvil and movement of the drive member from its intermediate position to its clamped position moves the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil to the clamped position while maintaining the cartridge assembly in parallel relation to the anvil.

A tool assembly comprising:

• an anvil including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a central knife slot and including a staple forming surface, the proximal portion of the body including spaced side walls defining an anvil cavity, each of the side walls supporting a distal pivot member and a proximal pivot member, the distal pivot member longitudinally spaced from the proximal pivot member, the distal and proximal pivot members extending from the respective side walls of the body of the anvil into the anvil cavity;
• a cartridge assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member including side walls and a base wall that define a channel cavity that receives the staple cartridge, each of the side walls of the channel member having a proximal portion that defines first and second slots, the first and second slots defining axes that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge assembly, the first slots being longitudinally spaced from the second slots, each of the first slots receiving a respective one of the distal pivot members, and each of the second slots receiving a respective one of the proximal pivot members, the cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil to move the tool assembly from an open position to a clamped position;
• and
• biasing members supported between the proximal portion of the anvil and the proximal portion of the channel member, the biasing members urging the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil towards the open position.