A surgical stapling device (10) includes an outer tube (14) having a proximal body portion (70) and a distal channel portion (74). A distal end (80) of the proximal body portion (70) defines a pair of cutouts (82). An anvil assembly (22) includes an anvil body (26) defining a tissue contact surface (30) and a pair of pivot members (40) which are supported within the cutouts (82). A staple cartridge (44) is supported in the distal channel portion (74) of the outer tube (14) and defines a tissue contact surface (44a). The cutouts (82) are dimensioned to allow movement of the pivot members (40) within the cutouts (82) to allow the tissue contact surface (30) of the anvil body (26) to move in relation to the tissue contact surface (44a) of the staple cartridge (44) from a “parked position” in which the tissue contact surfaces (30, 44a) are in juxtaposed engagement to a “clamped position” in which the tissue contact surfaces (30, 44a) defining a tissue gap (G). A drive member (62) is provided that is formed from sheet metal and includes upper and lower extending members (90, 92) that are positioned to engage the anvil body (26) and the distal channel portion (74) to define a maximum tissue gap (G) between the tissue contact surfaces (30, 44a) of the anvil body (26) and the staple cartridge (44).
