#$%^&*AU2014268183A120141211.pdf#####SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS ABSTRACT A surgical stapling apparatus (10) comprising a tool assembly (17) having a cartridge assembly (18) including a staple cartridge (82) having a plurality of surgical fasteners (84) therein, and an anvil assembly (20), at least one of the cartridge assembly (18) and anvil assembly (20) being movable in relation to the other of the cartridge assembly (18) and anvil assembly (2), wherein the anvil assembly (20) includes an anvil plate (70) , and wherein each of the anvil plate (70) and the staple cartridge (82) define an elongate longitudinal slot (70b) a surgical buttress (B) releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil plate (70) and the staple cartridge (82), wherein each surgical buttress(B) is secured to the at least one of the anvil assembly (20) and the cartridge assembly (18) by at least one anchor (S) a release assembly (74) associated with the at least one of the anvil assembly (20) and the cartridge assembly (18), the release assembly (74) including a pusher that is one of pivotably connected to and slidably supported in at least one of the cartridge assembly (18) and the anvil assembly (20) and a drive assembly (50) slidably translatable through the tool assembly (17) from a proximal position to a distal position, the drive assembly (17) actuating the release assembly (74) to thereby release the anchor (S) and to free the surgical buttress (B) from the at least one of the anvil assembly (20) and cartridge assembly (18).
