Surgical cutting and stapling device with closure apparatus for limiting maximum tissue compression force

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• an elongate spine coupled to said handle assembly;
• an elongate channel distally coupled to said elongate spine and configured to support a staple cartridge therein;
• an anvil operably coupled to said elongate channel and selectively movable between open and closed positions;
• a closure tube assembly defining a closure axis and movably received on said elongate spine, said closure tube assembly having a distal end portion oriented to selectively interact with said anvil to cause said anvil to move between said open and closed positions;
• a closure drive operably supported within said handle assembly movably supporting a proximal end portion of said closure tube assembly therein and being operable to selectively apply opening and closing motions to said closure tube assembly such that upon application of said closure motion to said closure tube assembly, said closure tube assembly applies a closing force to said anvil;
• and
• at least one force limiting member supported by said closure drive for travel therewith for interacting with said closure tube assembly to limit an amount of the closing force applied to said anvil by said closure tube assembly in response to a resistive force experienced by said anvil when clamping tissue between said anvil and said elongate channel, wherein said force limiting member defines a compression axis that is substantially parallel with the closure axis defined by said closure tube assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a cartridge supporting assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• an anvil operably coupled to said cartridge supporting assembly and being selectively movable between open and closed positions;
• and
• a variable length closure member defining a closure axis and supported for selective contact with said anvil to selectively apply a closing force thereto in response to a closing motion applied to said closure member and an opening force thereto in response to an opening motion applied to said closure member, said closure member having a resilient portion therein configured to enable the length of said closure member to change in response to a resistive force experienced by said anvil when clamping tissue between said anvil and a staple cartridge supported in said cartridge supporting assembly, wherein said resilient portion defines a compression axis that is substantially parallel with the closure axis defined by said closure member.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a cartridge supporting assembly configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• an anvil operably coupled to said cartridge supporting assembly and being selectively movable between open and closed positions;
• and
• closure means for selectively apply a closing force to said anvil and an opening force to said anvil, wherein said closure means defines a closure axis;
• and
• force limiting means for interacting with said closure means to limit an amount of the closing force applied to said anvil by said closure means in response to a resistive force experienced by said anvil when clamping tissue between said anvil and said elongate channel, wherein said force limiting means defines a compression axis that is substantially parallel with the closure axis defined by said closure means.