Importance

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Abstract

The present invention comprises a surgical stapler including an anvil elongate in a longitudinal direction having anvil surfaces in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and surfaces defining an alignment aperture opening onto the anvil surfaces. A cartridge assembly is present that is movable relative to the anvil between an open position with the cartridge assembly spaced from the anvil surfaces and a closed position with the cartridge assembly and the anvil surfaces in closely spaced relationship. There is also present a longitudinally extending alignment pin mounted on the stapler for movement between an alignment position with the alignment pin extending into the alignment aperture, and a release position with the alignment pin spaced from the alignment aperture, and a mechanism which is adapted to engage the cartridge assembly for continuously preventing the cartridge assembly from moving from the open to the closed position whenever the alignment pin is in a position other than the alignment position, and for preventing the alignment pin from moving from the alignment position toward the release position when the cartridge assembly is in the closed position.

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First Claim