An apparatus, comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft extending from the body, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis; and (c) an end effector in communication with the shaft, wherein the end effector is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a cartridge configured to hold one or more staples, (ii) an anvil movable relative to the cartridge between an open position and a closed position, and (iii) a curved distal tip located at a distal end of the cartridge or the anvil, wherein the curved distal tip comprises an elastically deformable portion configured to deflect at least a portion of the curved distal tip in response to a clamping force applied to the curved distal tip, wherein the curved distal tip comprises further a first surface that defines a first plane when the curved distal tip is in a non-deformed state, wherein a first angle (Θ1) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the first plane, wherein the first surface defines a second plane when the curved distal tip is in a deformed state, wherein a second angle (Θ2) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the second plane, characterized in that the curved distal tip is configured to move through a range of motion from elastic deformation in a range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees. (a) a body; (b) a shaft extending from the body, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis; and (c) an end effector in communication with the shaft, wherein the end effector is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a cartridge configured to hold one or more staples, (ii) an anvil movable relative to the cartridge between an open position and a closed position, and (iii) a curved distal tip located at a distal end of the cartridge or the anvil, wherein the curved distal tip comprises an elastically deformable portion configured to deflect at least a portion of the curved distal tip in response to a clamping force applied to the curved distal tip, wherein the curved distal tip comprises further a first surface that defines a first plane when the curved distal tip is in a non-deformed state, wherein a first angle (Θ1) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the first plane, wherein the first surface defines a second plane when the curved distal tip is in a deformed state, wherein a second angle (Θ2) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the second plane, characterized in that the curved distal tip is configured to move through a range of motion from elastic deformation in a range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees. (i) a cartridge configured to hold one or more staples, (ii) an anvil movable relative to the cartridge between an open position and a closed position, and (iii) a curved distal tip located at a distal end of the cartridge or the anvil, wherein the curved distal tip comprises an elastically deformable portion configured to deflect at least a portion of the curved distal tip in response to a clamping force applied to the curved distal tip, wherein the curved distal tip comprises further a first surface that defines a first plane when the curved distal tip is in a non-deformed state, wherein a first angle (Θ1) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the first plane, wherein the first surface defines a second plane when the curved distal tip is in a deformed state, wherein a second angle (Θ2) is defined by intersection of the longitudinal axis with the second plane,