Example 20
A surgical stapler comprising: (a) a first half comprising: (i) a first elongate member, (ii) a surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets, (iii) a distal latch projection, (iv) a proximal pivot projection, and (v) a detent member extending laterally outwardly from the first elongate member; and (b) a second half configured to releasably couple with the first half, wherein the second half comprises: (i) a second elongate member having a distal portion operable to deploy staples toward the first half and at least one proximal notch configured to pivotably receive the proximal pivot projection of the first half, (ii) a latching lever pivotably coupled to the second elongate member and configured to selectively engage the distal latch projection for clamping the first half against the second half to thereby define a clamped state of the surgical stapler, and (iii) a shoulder member configured to selectively engage the detent member in response to rotation of the first half away from the second half about the proximal pivot projection to an open state in which the first and second elongate members assume a predetermined maximum angular orientation relative to one another and remain releasably coupled together at their proximal ends.
