A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongate member an actuation assembly operatively associated with the handle assembly, the actuation mechanism including: a thrust bar disposed at least partially within the elongate member, the thrust bar having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, wherein the thrust bar is configured to move between proximal and distal positions with respect to the handle assembly a distal slide member positioned adjacent the first lateral side of the thrust bar, the distal slide member being fixed adjacent the distal portion of the thrust bar, wherein a proximal portion of the distal slide member is adapted to slide relative to the thrust bar when thrust bar moves in a curvilinear direction.
