Anvil for surgical stapler

In combination, a surgical stapler apparatus having a circular array of fasteners disposed at a distal end thereof and an anvil assembly for use with the apparatus, the anvil assembly being movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners and having a generally circular anvil head and an anvil rod having first and second portions, the anvil head being mounted to a distal end of the anvil rod first portion, the improvement comprising:

• providing a pivot pin for pivotably mounting a distal end of the anvil rod second portion to a proximal end of the anvil rod first portion, wherein the anvil head and anvil rod first portion are pivotable about said pivot pin and pivotable relative to the anvil rod second portion.

A surgical stapling apparatus having an elongate shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the elongate shaft, a fastener retainer connected to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the fastener retainer having a circular array of fasteners, and an anvil assembly detachably mountable to a distal end of the apparatus and movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners, the anvil assembly having an anvil rod, the anvil rod having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis, and a substantially circular anvil head mounted to the distal end of the anvil rod, the anvil head having a generally flat staple forming surface in general perpendicular alignment with the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod, the improvement comprising:

• the anvil head being secured to the anvil rod distal end portion, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion is pivotable from a first position, wherein the anvil head staple forming surface is in general perpendicular alignment with the longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod, to a second position, wherein the staple forming surface has pivotably moved from the first position.

In combination, a surgical stapling apparatus having a circular array of fasteners disposed at a distal end thereof, and an anvil assembly adapted for use with the apparatus, the anvil assembly being movable towards and away from the circular array of fasteners and comprising an anvil rod having proximal and distal end portions and a substantially circular anvil head mounted to the distal end portion of the anvil rod, the anvil head having a generally flat staple forming surface and secured to the anvil rod distal end portion, wherein the anvil rod distal end portion and anvil are pivotable from a first position, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil head is in general perpendicular alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by the anvil rod proximal end portion, to a second position, wherein the staple forming surface of the anvil head is angularly displaced by about 90.degree. from the first position.