Surgical fastener applying apparatus

1. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising:

an anvil half-section including a distal anvil portion and a proximal handle portion;

a cartridge receiving half-section defining an elongated channel member and including at least one hinge member supported on a bottom wall of the elongated channel member, the elongated channel member having a distal portion dimensioned to releasably receive a single use loading unit and a proximal portion configured to support a firing assembly, and wherein the at least one hinge member defines an opening; and

a clamping lever pivotally secured to the cartridge receiving half-section, the clamping lever having a proximal end, a distal end, and a pivot member supported at only one end in cantilevered fashion on the distal end of the clamping lever;

the pivot member of the clamping lever being slidably received within the opening of the at least one hinge member to pivotally secure the clamping lever to the cartridge receiving half-section, the clamping lever being movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to releasably secure the anvil portion of the anvil half-section in close approximation with the single use loading unit supported within the elongated channel member.

2. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1 further including the firing assembly, the firing assembly being configured to be releasably secured within the proximal portion of the cartridge receiving half-section and including a firing lever and a cam bar fixedly secured to the firing lever.

3. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the firing assembly further includes a stationary housing, the stationary housing being configured to be releasably supported in the proximal portion of the cartridge receiving half-section.

4. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the stationary housing includes a bottom wall having a downwardly extending protrusion.

5. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the elongated channel member defines an opening dimensioned to receive the downwardly extending protrusion to properly position the firing assembly within the elongated channel member.

6. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the firing assembly further includes a knife actuating bar which is configured to engage a knife supported within the single use loading unit.

7. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the firing assembly includes a spring member secured to the stationary housing and the elongated channel member defines an elongated slot which is dimensioned to allow passage of the spring member, the spring member being positioned to extend through the elongated slot and engage the clamping lever to urge the clamping lever towards the unclamped position.

8. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal anvil portion has a triangular transverse cross-section.

9. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the distal anvil portion is solid and defines a longitudinal slot dimensioned to receive a knife of the single use loading unit.

10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping lever includes a locking member having a central pivot member, the locking member having a first end including an engagement member and a second end including a finger engagement surface, the locking member being pivotable about the central pivot member to engage a catch member formed on the cartridge receiving half-section in a snap-fit type engagement to retain the clamping lever in the clamped position.

11. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the finger engagement surface is positioned to be depressible to pivot the engagement member about the central pivot member out of engagement with the catch member.

12. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping lever including the pivot member is of unitary construction.

13. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot member is fixedly secured to the distal end portion of the clamping lever.

14. A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising:

an anvil half-section including a distal anvil portion and a proximal handle portion;

a cartridge receiving half-section defining an elongated channel member and including at least one hinge member supported on a bottom wall of the elongated channel member, the elongated channel member having a distal portion dimensioned to releasably receive a single use loading unit and a proximal portion configured to support a firing assembly, and wherein the at least one hinge member defines an opening; and

a clamping lever pivotally secured to the cartridge receiving half-section, the clamping lever having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a pivot member secured at only one end in cantilevered fashion on the distal end portion of the clamping lever;

the pivot member of the clamping lever being slidably received within the opening of the at least one hinge member to pivotally secure the clamping lever to the cartridge receiving half section, the clamping lever being movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position to releasably secure the anvil portion of the anvil half-section in close approximation with the single use loading unit supported within the elongated channel member, wherein the pivot member can be slid from the opening of the at least one hinge member to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the cartridge receiving half-section.

15. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the clamping lever including the pivot member is of unitary construction.

16. The surgical fastener applying assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the pivot member is fixedly secured to the distal end portion of the clamping lever.