A surgical instrument, comprising: a first jaw comprising a first proximal end and a first distal tip , wherein a first jaw midpoint (MP) is defined between said first proximal end and said first distal tip; and a second jaw comprising a second proximal end and a second distal tip , wherein a second jaw midpoint (MP) is defined between said second proximal end and said second distal tip, wherein said first proximal end and said second proximal end are movably coupled together to facilitate selective movement of said first jaw and said second jaw relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, wherein said first jaw further comprises at least one first alignment feature thereon that is distal to said first jaw midpoint, wherein said at least one first alignment feature is configured to engage a corresponding portion of said second jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are moved to said closed position to align said first distal tip with said second distal tip, wherein said second jaw further comprises at least one second alignment feature that is distal to said second jaw midpoint, and wherein said at least one second alignment feature is configured to engage a corresponding portion of said first jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are moved to said closed position to align said first distal tip with said second distal tip, wherein said first alignment feature comprises a plurality of first teeth on said first jaw and wherein said at least one second alignment feature comprises a plurality of second teeth on said second jaw, wherein each of the first teeth lies along a corresponding first tooth axis, wherein each first tooth axis intersects a common point that is laterally displaced from the center axis of the first jaw, wherein each of the second teeth lies along a corresponding second tooth axis, wherein each second tooth axis intersects a common point that is laterally displaced from the center axis of the second jaw. a first jaw comprising a first proximal end and a first distal tip , wherein a first jaw midpoint (MP) is defined between said first proximal end and said first distal tip; and a second jaw comprising a second proximal end and a second distal tip , wherein a second jaw midpoint (MP) is defined between said second proximal end and said second distal tip, wherein said first proximal end and said second proximal end are movably coupled together to facilitate selective movement of said first jaw and said second jaw relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, wherein said first jaw further comprises at least one first alignment feature thereon that is distal to said first jaw midpoint, wherein said at least one first alignment feature is configured to engage a corresponding portion of said second jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are moved to said closed position to align said first distal tip with said second distal tip, wherein said second jaw further comprises at least one second alignment feature that is distal to said second jaw midpoint, and wherein said at least one second alignment feature is configured to engage a corresponding portion of said first jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are moved to said closed position to align said first distal tip with said second distal tip, wherein said first alignment feature comprises a plurality of first teeth on said first jaw and wherein said at least one second alignment feature comprises a plurality of second teeth on said second jaw, wherein each of the first teeth lies along a corresponding first tooth axis, wherein each first tooth axis intersects a common point that is laterally displaced from the center axis of the first jaw, wherein each of the second teeth lies along a corresponding second tooth axis, wherein each second tooth axis intersects a common point that is laterally displaced from the center axis of the second jaw. <EOS>