An apparatus comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an anvil, and (ii) a lower jaw, wherein the anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw; and (d) a staple cartridge coupled with the lower jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises: (i) a deck facing the anvil, and (ii) a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck; wherein the end effector is structured to provide a predefined gap separating the surface of the deck and the corresponding surface of the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein tissue may be compressed against the deck when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein the anvil comprises a compressible feature extending toward the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil defines a first channel, wherein the compressible feature extends at least partially along the first channel, wherein the at least one compressible feature of the anvil is configured to compress tissue that is thinner than the predefined gap distance against the staple cartridge when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein the apparatus further comprises a firing bar slidably received in the first channel and movable through the end effector to effect severing and stapling of the tissue, wherein the compressible feature is configured to remain on the anvil after the firing bar moves through the end effector to sever and staple tissue, characterized in that: the compressible feature comprises a pair of elongate members (498a, 498b) extending along opposite sides of the first channel. (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an anvil, and (ii) a lower jaw, wherein the anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw; and (i) an anvil, and (ii) a lower jaw, wherein the anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue between the anvil and the lower jaw; and (d) a staple cartridge coupled with the lower jaw, wherein the staple cartridge comprises: (i) a deck facing the anvil, and (ii) a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck; (i) a deck facing the anvil, and (ii) a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck; wherein the end effector is structured to provide a predefined gap separating the surface of the deck and the corresponding surface of the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein tissue may be compressed against the deck when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein the anvil comprises a compressible feature extending toward the staple cartridge, wherein the anvil defines a first channel, wherein the compressible feature extends at least partially along the first channel, wherein the at least one compressible feature of the anvil is configured to compress tissue that is thinner than the predefined gap distance against the staple cartridge when the anvil is in a closed position, wherein the apparatus further comprises a firing bar slidably received in the first channel and movable through the end effector to effect severing and stapling of the tissue, wherein the compressible feature is configured to remain on the anvil after the firing bar moves through the end effector to sever and staple tissue, characterized in that: the compressible feature comprises a pair of elongate members (498a, 498b) extending along opposite sides of the first channel.