Tool assembly for a surgical stapling device

1. A surgical stapling device, comprising:

a tool assembly, including:

an anvil;

a cartridge assembly having a plurality of surgical staples;

a dynamic clamping member, the dynamic clamping member having an upper flange for engaging the anvil and a lower flange for engaging the cartridge assembly, the anvil and cartridge assembly being movable in relation to each other between open and clamped positions;

a sled slidably positioned to translate through the cartridge assembly to eject the staples from the cartridge assembly, the dynamic clamping member being positioned proximally of the sled in engagement therewith and translatable through the cartridge assembly;

a clamp ring movable from a retracted position to an advanced position encircling proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly from exceeding a predetermined distance;

a drive mechanism for advancing the clamp ring and dynamic clamping member;

wherein the drive mechanism includes a flexible member attached to the dynamic clamping member and movable distally to advance the dynamic clamping member distally through the cartridge assembly and a sheath positioned about the flexible member, the sheath being connected to the clamp ring.

2. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic clamping member includes a knife blade for cutting tissue.

3. The surgical stapling device of Claim 1 , wherein the dynamic clamping member includes a recess for receiving a distal end of the flexible member.

4. The surgical stapling device of claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the flexible member is shaped to conform to the recess.

5. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a cam surface and the lower flange engages the cam surface to pivot the cartridge assembly from the spaced position to the approximated position.

6. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , wherein the tool assembly is mounted for articulation about a pivot axis.

7. The surgical stapling device of claim 6 , further comprising a pivot member at the pivot axis.

8. The surgical stapling device of claim 7 , further comprising an articulation link attached to the tool assembly at a location offset from the pivot member.

9. The surgical stapling device of claim 8 , further comprising a collar, the pivot member being connected to the collar.

10. The surgical stapling device of claim 9 , wherein the anvil and cartridge assembly are rotatable in relation to the collar.

11. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , wherein the clamp ring remains positioned around the proximal end of the anvil and the proximal end of the cartridge assembly while the dynamic clamping member moves to eject the staples from the cartridge.

12. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , further comprising an endoscopic body portion, the tool assembly being supported at a distal end of the endoscopic body portion.

13. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle assembly for actuating the tool assembly.