Patent attributes
A surgical stapler includes a first half having a first elongate member and a surface with staple forming pockets. The stapler also includes a second half for releasably coupling with the first half and including a second elongate member having a distal portion for deploying staples. The elongate members are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot axis when the halves are releasably coupled. The stapler further includes a latching member for selectively clamping the halves in a clamped state. The stapler also includes a detent member extending laterally from one of the halves toward the other. The stapler further includes a shoulder member positioned on the other of the halves and configured to selectively engage the detent member in response to rotation of the first elongate member away from the second elongate member to an open state in which the elongate members assume a maximum angular orientation.