Surgical stapler

Abstract

An anvil assembly comprising an anvil shaft and an anvil head, the anvil head having anvil depressions for forming surgical staples. The anvil head is mounted to the anvil shaft and the anvil shaft has a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced apart elongated projections attached to the anvil shaft and extending therefrom. The projections are configured and dimensioned to retain a purse string suture.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising: securing a suture to a section of target tissue of a patient; inserting an anvil assembly of a surgical staple applying apparatus into the patient; selecting an amount of the target tissue to be resected by securing the suture to one of a series of cutouts formed in an anvil shaft of the anvil assembly; connecting the anvil assembly to a body of the surgical staple applying apparatus; approximating the anvil assembly and a shell assembly of the surgical staple applying apparatus; and firing the surgical staple applying apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein approximating the anvil assembly and the shell assembly includes drawing the target tissue into the body of the surgical staple applying apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein firing the surgical staple applying apparatus includes advancing a knife member to sever the target tissue.