Circular stapler with controlled tissue compression

摘要

There are provided torque limiting mechanisms (40,110,140) for use in tissue clamping surgical instruments (10). The torque limiting mechanisms (40,110,140) generally include a driven member (78,112,142), engageable with an approximating mechanism of the surgical instruments (10), and having a driven surface (80,130,156) and a driving member (82,114,144) having a driving surface (84,132,158) engageable with the driven surface (80,130,156) of the driven member (78,112,142). The driving member (82,114,144) is rotatable relative to the driven member (78,112,142) such that the driving surface (84,132,158) of the driving member (82,114,144) slips relative to or disengages from the driven surface (80,130,156) of the driven member (78,112,142) at a predetermined engagement pressure.