Surgical stapling apparatus with curved cartridge and anvil assemblies

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a first jaw member;
• a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member between an open position and an approximated position;
• a shaft disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the jaw members;
• a pinion disposed adjacent a portion of the shaft;
• a knife bar including a rack adapted to mesh with the pinion, the knife bar movable with respect to at least one of the jaw members between a retracted position and a deployed position upon rotation of the shaft;
• and
• a knife extending from the knife bar, wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a sleeve adapted to receive the knife bar in a retracted position, and wherein the knife bar is movable in a continuous path between the sleeve and the at least one jaw member.

An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

• a first jaw member;
• a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is linearly movable in a first direction between an open position and an approximated position with respect to the other jaw member;
• and
• a cutting member movable in a second direction with respect to the first jaw member, the first direction being non-parallel to the second direction, wherein the first jaw member includes a sleeve adapted to receive the cutting member in a retracted position.