A surgical tool or applier for deploying an anastomotic ring comprises a handle connected to an elongate shaft that terminates in an anastomotic ring deployment mechanism. The ring deployment mechanism is moveable from an unactuated position to an actuated position. In order to prevent tissue from becoming trapped in the ring deployment mechanism during insertion or extraction of the tool, a plurality of panels are configured to enclose portions of the ring deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, where the ring deployment mechanism is in the unactuated position. The panels are moveable with the ring deployment mechanism to the actuated position, in which the ring deployment mechanism is able to deploy the anastomotic ring.