End effector jaw closure features for surgical stapler

A first jaw for use with an end effector of a surgical instrument, a proximal end of the first jaw including a ramp surface comprising:

• (a) a proximal engagement portion defining a first slope;
• (b) an intermediate engagement portion defining a second slope that is greater than the first slope, the intermediate engagement portion being distal to the proximal engagement portion, at least a portion of the proximal engagement portion being concavely curved;
• and
• (c) a distal engagement portion being distal to the intermediate engagement portion;
• wherein the ramp surface is configured to be engaged by a translatable cam of the surgical instrument to thereby pivot the first jaw relative to a second jaw of the end effector, the first and second jaws configured to cooperate to clamp tissue positioned therebetween.

An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:

• (a) a first jaw including a first jaw body and at least one channel or at least one projection disposed on a lateral side of the first jaw body;
• (b) a second jaw pivotable relative to the first jaw;
• and
• (c) a translatable cam operatively coupled with the first jaw and the second jaw and including the other of at least one channel or at least one projection, the translatable cam being translatable relative to the first jaw such that the at least one projection is translatable within the at least one channel, the translatable cam being configured to cammingly engage the second jaw as the translatable cam translates distally relative to the first jaw to thereby pivot the second jaw relative to the first jaw, the at least one channel and the least one projection being configured to cooperate to inhibit rotation of the translatable cam relative to the first and second jaws about a longitudinal axis of the end effector.

A method of using a surgical instrument including an end effector having a first jaw, a second jaw, and a translatable ring, the method comprising:

• (a) advancing the translatable ring a first distance along the first jaw and the second jaw to thereby pivot a distal end of the first jaw towards a distal end of the second jaw at a first rate;
• and
• (b) advancing the translatable ring a second distance along the first jaw and the second jaw to thereby pivot the distal end of the first jaw towards the distal end of the second jaw at a second rate;
• the first distance being proximal to the second distance, the first rate being slower than the second rate.