Apparatus and method to apply buttress to end effector of surgical stapler via fixed base

An assembly comprising:

• (a) a surgical stapler end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw;
• (b) an adjunct applicator including:
• (i) a connection portion,
• (ii) a first body portion extending distally from the connection portion,
• (iii) a second body portion opposed from the first body portion and extending distally from the connection portion, wherein the first and second body portions are configured to define a distally opening angle,
• (iv) a first adjunct element positioned on the first body portion, and
• (v) a second adjunct element positioned on the second body portion;
• and
• (c) a strut moveably coupled to one of the first body portion or the second body portion, wherein the strut is configured to engage the other of the first body portion or the second body portion at a predefined location to define a distally opening angle between the first and second body portions, wherein the first body portion is configured to apply the first adjunct element to the first jaw and the second body portion is configured to apply the second adjunct element to the second jaw while the surgical stapler end effector is in an open state.