A surgical instrument for being endoscopically or laparoscopically
inserted into a surgical site for simultaneous stapling and severing of
tissue includes force adjusted spacing between an upper jaw (anvil) and a
lower jaw (staple cartridge engaged to an elongate staple channel) so
that the height of staple formation corresponds to the thickness of the
tissue, yet does not exceed the height range that may be accommodated by
the length of the staples. In particular, resilient structures may be
formed into one or more of the elongate channel that supports the staple
cartridge, the anvil that is pivotally attached to the elongate channel,
and/or a firing member that includes a cutting surface (knife) that
severs tissue between a top pin that engages the anvil and a lower foot
that engage the elongate channel. The resilience responds to the force
exerted by clamped tissue to vary the spacing between the anvil and the
staple cartridge supported within the elongate channel.