Surgical stapling apparatus

1 . A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw member and a second jaw member that are configured to maintain a parallel relationship with one another as the first and second jaw members move between an approximated position and a separated position; and

a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member and including:

a spring;

opposed outer side surfaces; and

a tissue contacting surface including a segment, wherein the segment:

is movable prior to a firing of the surgical stapling apparatus;

defines at least two staple receiving slots;

extends between an inner end portion and an outer end portion, wherein the outer end portion extends to at least one of the opposed outer side surfaces of the staple cartridge; and

floats on the spring in a position to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane of the tissue contacting surface towards a second position away from the tissue contacting plane.

2 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured to urge the segment toward the first position.

3 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the segment.

4 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure from movement of the segment.

5 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is in electrical communication with a controller and a power source.

6 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are arranged in longitudinally extending parallel rows.

7 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are staggered longitudinally with respect to one another.

8 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the segment is v-shaped.

9 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a first spring and the segment is a first segment and the surgical apparatus further comprises a second segment and a second spring, wherein the second segment floats on the second spring.

10 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the tissue contacting surface defines a knife slot that extends along a longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge between proximal and distal end portions of the staple cartridge, the knife slot separating the tissue contacting surface into a first side and a second side, the first segment being disposed on the first side of the knife slot, the second segment being disposed on the second side of the knife slot.

11 . A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw member comprising an anvil;

a second jaw member; and

a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member, the staple cartridge comprising:

a biasing member;

opposed outer side surfaces; and

a tissue contacting surface including a segment that is movable prior to the firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, wherein the segment:

extends between an inner end portion and an outer end portion, wherein the outer end portion extends to at least one of the opposed outer side surfaces of the staple cartridge; and

is positioned on the biasing member to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane of the tissue contacting surface towards a second position away from the tissue contacting plane.

12 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is configured to urge the segment toward the first position.

13 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the segment.

14 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the segment defines at least two staple receiving slots.

15 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are arranged in longitudinally extending parallel rows.

16 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member and the segment is a first segment and the surgical apparatus further comprises a second segment and a second biasing member, wherein the second segment is positioned on the second biasing member.

17 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the tissue contacting surface defines a knife slot that extends along a longitudinal axis of the staple cartridge between proximal and distal end portions of the staple cartridge, the knife slot separating the tissue contacting surface into a first side and a second side, the first segment being disposed on the first side of the knife slot, the second segment being disposed on the second side of the knife slot.

18 . A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a first jaw member comprising an anvil;

a second jaw member;

a staple cartridge supported by the first jaw member, the staple cartridge comprising:

a biasing member;

opposed outer side surfaces;

a tissue contacting surface including a segment that is movable prior to the firing of the surgical stapling apparatus, wherein the segment:

extends between an inner end portion and an outer end portion, wherein the outer end portion extends to at least one of the opposed outer side surfaces of the staple cartridge; and

is positioned on the biasing member to move from a first position aligned with a tissue contacting plane of the tissue contacting surface towards a second position away from the tissue contacting plane; and

a pressure responsive element positioned adjacent the segment; and

a controller operatively coupled to the pressure responsive element, the controller configured to:

receive a signal from the pressure responsive element, the signal representative of applied pressure as staples are fired; and

communicate feedback to an end user via at least one of: audible feedback, visual feedback, tactile feedback, or a combination thereof, the feedback representative of one of a successful or an unsuccessful completion of fastener deployment.

19 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the feedback indicates at least one of initiation of fastener deployment, completion of fastener deployment, individual fastener deployment, individual fastener formation, or a combination thereof.

20 . The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured register an error code based on an irregularity in the received signal.