Knife retraction arm for a curved cutter stapler

Abstract A surgical instrument adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue comprises a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, with a handle positioned at the 5 proximal end and an end effector positioned at the distal end. The end effector is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a cartridge housing and an anvil. The cartridge housing and anvil is relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second position in close approximation with one another, and the cartridge housing includes a knife structure adapted for cutting tissue by moving between the cartridge housing and the anvil. 10 A firing mechanism is associated with the end effector and the cartridge housing for selective actuation. The knife structure includes a knife and a knife holder, and the knife holder is located on a proximal end of the knife opposite to a cutting edge of the knife, and the firing mechanism includes a knife retraction hook, the end of the knife retraction hook including a hook that faces upward to receive the knife holder as the cartridge housing is 15 loaded into the end effector of the linear surgical stapler. cm co2 ec CDa