Surgical apparatus having articulation mechanism

Apparatus for driving surgical fasteners comprising:

• a) a frame portion;
• b) an elongated body having a proximal portion extending from said frame portion and an articulating distal portion;
• c) a cartridge assembly mounted in said articulating distal portion and having a tissue engaging surface thereon;
• d) an anvil member having a fastener forming surface thereon, said anvil member and said cartridge assembly configured for relative movement between an open position wherein said fastener forming surface is spaced from said tissue engaging surface and a closed position wherein said fastener forming surface is in close cooperative alignment with said tissue engaging surface;
• e) an articulation member mounted for longitudinal movement within said proximal portion of said elongated body and a linkage assembly mounted in said proximal portion of said elongated body and cooperating with said articulating distal portion, said linkage assembly including at least one reciprocally translatable coupler link;
• f) an actuation assembly which includes a movable handle actuable from said frame portion for moving at least one of said anvil member and said cartridge assembly between said open position and said closed position;
• and
• g) at least one cam bar which translates through said cartridge assembly and interacts with a plurality of fastener pushers, thereby sequentially ejecting surgical fasteners from said cartridge assembly to form against said fastener forming surface of said anvil member;
• wherein longitudinal movement of said articulation member causes axial translation of said coupler link, thereby effecting articulation of said articulating distal portion relative to said proximal portion.