Clamping assembly for linear surgical stapler

A surgical stapler comprising:

• (a) a first stapler half comprising:
• (i) an elongate member having a distal portion that supports an anvil surface, wherein the anvil surface includes a plurality of staple forming pockets,
• (ii) a shroud,
• (iii) a keyhole slot arranged in one of the elongate member or the shroud, and
• (iv) a coupling member, wherein the coupling member extends through the keyhole slot and couples the shroud with the elongate member;
• and
• (b) a second stapler half comprising:
• (i) a distal portion configured to support a staple cartridge, and
• (ii) a clamp member operable to releasably capture the coupling member to thereby clamp the first stapler half against the second stapler half.

A surgical stapler comprising:

• (a) a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports an anvil surface, wherein the anvil surface includes a plurality of staple forming pockets;
• (b) a second elongate member having a distal portion configured to receive a staple cartridge;
• (c) a clamp lever operable to pivot from a first position to a second position to clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member;
• and
• (d) a latch member coupled to the clamp lever, wherein the latch member is operable to releasably couple a free end of the clamp lever with the second elongate member when the clamp lever is in the second position.

A surgical stapler comprising:

• (a) a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports an anvil surface, wherein the anvil surface includes a plurality of staple forming pockets;
• (b) a second elongate member having a distal portion configured to receive a staple cartridge;
• (c) a clamp member, wherein the clamp member is moveable from a first position to a second position to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member;
• and
• (d) a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is configured to urge the distal portion of the first elongate member away from the distal portion of the second elongate member when the clamp member is in the first position.