End effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft extending from said handle;
• an end effector extending from said shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• a gap setting system defining an adjustable pivot, wherein said gap setting system comprises an opening comprising a first clamping catch and a second clamping catch;
• a second jaw comprising a projection movably positioned within said slot, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw at said adjustable pivot, wherein said second jaw is movable into a first clamped position to clamp tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw when said projection is positioned in said first clamping catch, wherein a first gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first clamped position, wherein said second jaw is movable into a second clamped position to clamp tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw when said projection is positioned in said second clamping catch, wherein a second gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second clamped position, and wherein said first gap distance is different than said second gap distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft extending from said handle;
• an end effector extending from said shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a first jaw;
• a tissue gap setting system defining an adjustable pivot, wherein said tissue gap setting system comprises:
• a slot;
• a first seat defined in said slot;
• and
• a second seat defined in said slot;
• and
• a second jaw comprising a projection movably positioned within said slot, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw at said adjustable pivot, wherein said second jaw is movable into a first fully clamped position to clamp tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw when said projection is positioned in said first seat, wherein a first gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first fully clamped position, wherein said second jaw is movable into a second fully clamped position to clamp tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw when said projection is positioned in said second seat, wherein a second gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second fully clamped position, and wherein said first gap distance is different than said second gap distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a shaft extending from said handle;
• an end effector extending from said shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• an adjustable pivot comprising a window, wherein said window comprises a first window portion comprising a first height and a second window portion comprising a second height, and wherein said first height is different than said second height;
• a second jaw comprising a fulcrum movably positioned within said window, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw about said adjustable pivot, wherein said second jaw is movable into a first closed position when said fulcrum is positioned in said first window portion, wherein a first gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first closed position, wherein said second jaw is movable into a second closed position when said fulcrum is positioned in said second window portion, wherein a second gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second closed position, and wherein said first gap distance is different than said second gap distance.