Surgical stapler with improved operating lever mounting arrangement

Claim 1

An endoscopic surgical stapler, comprising: a frame including a handle portion configured to be held by a surgeon; an elongated endoscopic portion joined to an extending from said frame, said endoscopic portion being insertable into a patient for effecting a plurality of surgical steps; a staple cartridge portion at a distal end of said endoscopic portion, said cartridge containing a plurality of surgical staples; an anvil positioned at said distal end of said endoscopic portion generally adjacent said staple cartridge; a first operating linkage connected to said anvil for moving said anvil toward said cartridge to clamp tissue between said anvil and said cartridge; a second operating linkabe for driving said staples out of said cartridge, and against said anvil for deforming said staples; a first mounting boss on said frame defining a first generally annular bearing surface, and a second mounting boss on said frame defining a second generally annular bearing surface having an effective diameter substantially less than an effective diameter of said first bearing surface, said second mounting boss being positioned generally within and in spaced relationship to said first mounting boss, said first mounting boss having a C-shaped configuration defining a gap in the first bearing surface generally at a rearward portion thereof, said second mounting boss including a support strut extending generally from said second bearing surface into said gap defined by said first mounting boss; and first and second operating levers respectively operatively connected with said first and second operating linkages, and respectively pivotally mounted on said first and second mounting bosses.