Patent ID: 8684252

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly; an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly; a head portion disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly and a shell assembly, the shell assembly including a shell and a staple guide, the staple guide configured to house a plurality of staples in an annular array, the shell including a locking aperture formed in an outer surface of the shell spaced proximally of a distal end of the shell and defining a proximal wall and a distal wall, the shell including a ramp; a pusher positioned at least partially within the shell and advanceable relative to the staple guide; and a flexible engagement feature including at least one hook disposed on the staple guide, the hook including an angled surface disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof, and wherein the angled surface of the hook slidably contacts the ramp of the shell upon engagement between the staple guide and the shell and prior to the hook engaging the locking aperture.