Patent ID: 7434717

Claim:
A surgical stapler for stapling tissue, comprising: a channel configured for receiving a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge configured to removably store staples therein; an anvil configured to deform the staples, said anvil having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion intermediate said proximal portion and said distal portion, wherein said anvil is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to hold said tissue therebetween when said anvil is in said second position, and wherein said proximal portion and said distal portion of said anvil are closer to the staple cartridge than said middle portion when said anvil is in said second position; and a hinge connecting said anvil to said channel, wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to pivot toward said channel, and wherein said hinge is configured to permit said anvil to tilt relative to said channel.