A surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridgeand, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel.The surgical instrument can further comprise a cutting member configured to incise tissuepositioned captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil and, in addition, means forstopping the cutting member prior to a distal end datum, wherein the distal end datum can bedefined by the distal-most staple cavity in the staple cartridge. In such embodiments, theincision within the tissue may not extend beyond the portion of the tissue that has been stapled.
