Surgical stapling device with tissue gap control

A tool assembly comprising:

• an anvil;
• a cartridge assembly coupled to the anvil such that the tool assembly can pivot between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly including a channel member and a staple cartridge, the channel member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including side walls and a bottom wall that define a cavity, the bottom wall defining a knife slot, the staple cartridge received within the cavity of the channel member and including a cartridge body, staples, pushers, and a staple guard, the cartridge body defining a knife slot and staple receiving pockets arranged in rows on each side of the knife slot, the staples and the pushers received within the staple receiving pockets and the pushers movable from lowered positions to raised positions within the staple receiving pockets to eject the staples from the staple receiving pockets, the staple guard supported on the cartridge body and positioned to retain the staples and pushers within the cartridge body, the staple guard including a bottom wall supporting at least one spring member and defining a knife slot that is longitudinally aligned with the knife slot of the cartridge body, the at least one spring member positioned to engage the bottom wall of the channel member to facilitate vertical movement of the staple cartridge in relation to the anvil.

A staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body, staples, pushers, and a staple guard, the cartridge body defining a knife slot and staple receiving pockets arranged in rows on each side of the knife slot, the staples and the pushers received within the staple receiving pockets and the pushers movable from lowered positions to raised positions within the staple receiving pockets to eject the staples from the staple receiving pockets, the staple guard supported on the cartridge body and positioned to retain the staples and pushers within the cartridge body, the staple guard including a bottom wall defining a knife slot that is longitudinally aligned with the knife slot of the channel member, the bottom wall of the staple guard supporting spring members positioned on opposite sides the knife slot of the staple guard.