Surgical stapling assembly

A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

• a first closure member;
• a second closure member;
• a firing member, wherein said firing member is actuatable independently of said first closure member and said second closure member;
• a shaft;
• and
• an end effector attached to said shaft, wherein said end effector comprises:
• a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein;
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between:
• an unclamped position;
• a fully-clamped position defining a first distance between said first jaw and said second jaw, wherein said first closure member is configured to be actuated longitudinally relative to said second jaw to contact said second jaw and move said second jaw into said fully-clamped position;
• and
• a collapsed position defining a second distance between said first jaw and said second jaw, wherein said second closure member is configured to move said second jaw into said collapsed position,
• wherein said firing member comprises:
• a first flange configured to engage said first jaw;
• and
• a second flange configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said first flange and said second flange are configured to control the distance between said first jaw and said second jaw during a firing stroke of said firing member.

A surgical end effector assembly, comprising:

• a first closure member;
• a second closure member;
• a firing member, wherein said firing member is actuatable independently of said first closure member and said second closure member;
• a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein, wherein said staples are configured to be ejected from said staple cartridge by said firing member;
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between:
• an unclamped position;
• a fully-clamped position defining a first distance between said first jaw and said second jaw, wherein said first closure member is configured to be actuated longitudinally relative to said second jaw to contact said second jaw and move said second jaw into said fully-clamped position;
• and
• a collapsed position defining a second distance between said first jaw and said second jaw, wherein said second closure member is configured to move said second jaw into said collapsed position,
• wherein said firing member comprises:
• a first flange configured to engage said first jaw;
• and
• a second flange configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said first flange and said second flange are configured to control the distance between said first jaw and said second jaw during a firing stroke of said firing member.