Linear surgical stapler with mis-clamp features

A surgical stapler, comprising:

• (a) a first elongate body having a distal portion configured to present a first stapling surface;
• (b) a second elongate body having a distal portion configured to present a second stapling surface, wherein the first and second elongate bodies are configured to releasably couple together to enable the first and second stapling surfaces to cooperate to clamp and staple tissue with a plurality of staples;
• (c) a clamp protrusion extending from the first elongate body;
• (d) a clamp lever movably coupled with the second elongate body about a pivot axis, wherein the clamp lever includes:
• (i) a first opening movable about the pivot axis to thereby be configured to releasably capture and draw the clamp protrusion toward the second elongate body as the clamp lever advances from an open position toward a closed position to thereby approximate the first and second stapling surfaces, and
• (ii) a second opening offset from the first opening and movable about the pivot axis to thereby be configured to releasably capture the clamp protrusion when the clamp protrusion is misaligned with the first opening;
• and
• (e) a blocking protrusion extending from the second elongate body and configured to block the clamp protrusion from translating distally relative to the first elongate body when the clamp protrusion is disposed within the second opening.

A surgical stapler, comprising:

• (a) a first elongate body having a distal portion configured to present a first stapling surface;
• (b) a second elongate body having a distal portion configured to present a second stapling surface and configured to releasably couple with the first elongate body to enable the first and second stapling surfaces to cooperate to clamp and staple tissue with a plurality of staples, wherein the second elongate body includes:
• (i) an opening,
• (ii) a first sidewall portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the opening, and
• (iii) a second sidewall portion extending distally from a distal side of the opening, wherein the second sidewall portion is taller than the first sidewall portion in a direction that is perpendicular to a proximal-to-distal direction of the second elongate body,
• (c) a clamp protrusion extending from the first elongate body and configured to be received within the opening of the second elongate body as the first and second elongate bodies approximate;
• and
• (d) a clamp lever movably coupled with the second elongate body, wherein the clamp lever includes:
• (i) a first clamp lever opening configured to releasably capture and draw the clamp protrusion toward the second elongate body as the clamp lever advances from an open position toward a closed position to thereby approximate the first and second stapling surfaces, and
• (ii) a second clamp lever opening offset from the first clamp lever opening and configured to releasably capture the clamp protrusion when the clamp protrusion is misaligned with the first clamp lever opening,
• wherein the distal sidewall portion of the second elongate body is configured to inhibit distal translation of the first elongate body relative to the second elongate body when the clamp protrusion is misaligned with the first clamp lever opening.