Surgical Stapling Instrument

Surgical stapling instrument comprising:

• a staple fastening assembly (2;
• 102) in the distal end region of the instrument (1;
• 100), including a curved cartridge device (10), which comprises at least one curved open row (76, 77, 78) of staples (70) having a concave side and a convex side, and, opposite to the cartridge device (10), a curved anvil (12), which has a staple forming face (80) and is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device (10) for forming the ends of the staples (70) exiting from the cartridge device (10),
• a moving device (8, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 53, 60) adapted to move the anvil (12) relatively with respect to the cartridge device (10), essentially in parallel relationship, from a spaced position for positioning tissue therebetween to a closed position for clamping the tissue,
• a staple driving device (9, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 57, 64) adapted to drive the staples (70) out of the cartridge device (10) towards the anvil (12),
• a handle (4;
• 104) in the proximal end region of the instrument (1;
• 100), which handle (4;
• 104) is operatively connected to the staple fastening assembly (2;
• 102) and which comprises actuating members (24, 32) coupled to force transmitters (8, 9) of the moving device and of the staple driving device,
• characterized in that a flexible backbone (6;
• 106, 108) is arranged between the handle (4;
• 104) and the staple fastening assembly (2;
• 102), which flexible backbone (6;
• 106, 108) guides the force transmitters (8, 9) of the moving device and of the staple driving device.