| abstract |
A surgical stapling assembly comprising an anvil, a cartridge channel, a staple cartridge configured to be operably positioned in the channel, a firing member, and a ramp is disclosed. The channel comprises a base, an elongate internal slot, and a proximal channel opening defined in the base. The elongate internal slot comprises an encased internal passageway. The proximal channel opening is separate from the elongate internal slot. The firing member is movable from a first position to a second position distal to the first position. The firing member comprises a lateral extension configured to be received in the encased internal passageway as the firing member travels through the elongate internal slot during a firing motion. The proximal channel opening is configured to indicate when the firing member is in the first position. The ramp is for guiding the lateral extension into the encased internal passageway during the firing motion. |