SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING DEVICES WITH PIVOTABLE ANVIL WITH A TISSUE LOCATING ARRANGEMENT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN ANVIL PIVOT AXIS

摘要

A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw and a second jaw that is pivotally attached to the first jaw. At least one tissue locating feature on the second jaw extends downward beyond a second surface on the second jaw and is configured to prevent tissue received between a first surface on the first jaw and the second surface on the second jaw from extending proximally beyond a distal end portion of the at least one tissue locating feature. When the second jaw is in a fully open position, the distal end portion of each tissue locating feature is positioned relative to a corresponding portion of the first surface to prevent a gap therebetween and wherein a jaw aperture angle between the first and second surfaces when the second jaw is in the fully open position is greater than 12.25 degrees.