An apparatus for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising: (a) an anvil (240; 340), wherein the anvil comprises: (i) a distal surface, (ii) a proximal surface (250; 350), and (iii) a plurality of staple pockets (252; 352), wherein the plurality of staple pockets are formed on the proximal surface (250; 350) of the anvil (240; 340); wherein the anvil (240; 340) is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and (b) an anvil introduction system (200; 300) coupled with the anvil (240; 340), wherein the anvil introduction system (200; 300) comprises a dilation feature, wherein the dilation feature is configured to transition between: (i) a collapsed state, and (ii) an expanded state, wherein the dilation feature covers the staple pockets (252; 352) of the anvil (240; 340) in the expanded state; wherein the dilation feature is configured to be in the expanded state when the anvil (240; 340) is inserted through the bodily lumen; characterized in that: (i) the dilation feature comprises a bladder; or, (ii) the dilation feature comprises a plurality of expanding members and a mesh wrapped around the plurality of expanding members, and the anvil introduction system further comprises a sliding feature, wherein the sliding feature is operable to transition the dilation feature from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to translation of the sliding feature. (a) an anvil (240; 340), wherein the anvil comprises: (i) a distal surface, (ii) a proximal surface (250; 350), and (iii) a plurality of staple pockets (252; 352), wherein the plurality of staple pockets are formed on the proximal surface (250; 350) of the anvil (240; 340); wherein the anvil (240; 340) is configured to be inserted through a bodily lumen; and (i) a distal surface, (ii) a proximal surface (250; 350), and (iii) a plurality of staple pockets (252; 352), wherein the plurality of staple pockets are formed on the proximal surface (250; 350) of the anvil (240; 340); (b) an anvil introduction system (200; 300) coupled with the anvil (240; 340), wherein the anvil introduction system (200; 300) comprises a dilation feature, wherein the dilation feature is configured to transition between: (i) a collapsed state, and (ii) an expanded state, wherein the dilation feature covers the staple pockets (252; 352) of the anvil (240; 340) in the expanded state; wherein the dilation feature is configured to be in the expanded state when the anvil (240; 340) is inserted through the bodily lumen; characterized in that: (i) the dilation feature comprises a bladder; or, (ii) the dilation feature comprises a plurality of expanding members and a mesh wrapped around the plurality of expanding members, and the anvil introduction system further comprises a sliding feature, wherein the sliding feature is operable to transition the dilation feature from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to translation of the sliding feature. (i) a collapsed state, and (ii) an expanded state, wherein the dilation feature covers the staple pockets (252; 352) of the anvil (240; 340) in the expanded state; (i) the dilation feature comprises a bladder; or, (ii) the dilation feature comprises a plurality of expanding members and a mesh wrapped around the plurality of expanding members, and the anvil introduction system further comprises a sliding feature, wherein the sliding feature is operable to transition the dilation feature from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to translation of the sliding feature.