Surgical stapling apparatus and method

1. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus including a first and a second jaw structure each having a forward portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the first and second jaw structures being hingedly connected at a connection region of the intermediate portion spaced distally from where the first and second jaw structures are joined, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a gauging element into a staple gap defined between the forward portions of a respective first and second jaw structure, the first and second jaw structures being operably coupled to one another;

adjusting the size of the staple gap by manipulating a gap adjustment member disposed between the first and second jaw structures at the intermediate portion of the respective first and second jaw structures adjacent the connection region, to approximate the size of the staple gap to the size of the gauging element; and

locking the gap adjustment member into position.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gauging element is inserted between opposed tissue contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw structures.

3. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus having a pair of jaw structures operably couple with one another, the pair of jaw structures defining a staple gap between opposed distal surfaces thereof;

providing a gap adjustment member between the pair of jaw structures, the gap adjustment member including one or more bearing portions sharing a common rotational axis and one or more cam surface portions having a periphery with at least two different points along the periphery, with each point along the periphery having a different radius from the rotational axis;

inserting a gauging element into the staple gap;

manipulating the gap adjustment member in order to adjust the size of the staple gap; and

locking the gap adjustment member into position.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more cam surface portions has a central axis parallel to and spaced a distance from the rotational axis of the bearing portions.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the gap adjustment member includes:

a forward portion;

a rearward portion, the forward and rearward portions sharing a common rotational axis; and

an eccentric body portion interconnecting the forward and rearward portions, the body portion having a central axis spaced a distance from the rotational axis of the forward and rearward portions, wherein the forward and rearward portion of the gap adjustment member is rotatably received in mounting plates formed in one of the first and second jaw members and wherein the body portion extends between the mounting plates.

6. A method of adjusting a staple gap in a surgical stapling apparatus defining an intermediate portion, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical stapling apparatus having a jaw structure with an anvil receiving portion and a jaw structure with a cartridge receiving portion, the jaw structures being operatively couplable to one another to provide a staple gap between a respective forward portion of the anvil and cartridge receiving portions, one of the jaw structures having a pair of mounting members thereon for mounting the other of the jaw structures thereon, wherein the pair of mounting members are disposed at the intermediate portion of the surgical stapling apparatus spaced distally from a rear portion where the jaws structures are joined;

positioning a rotatable gap adjustment member on the mounting members between the jaw structures to provide a desired gap between the forward portions of the anvil and cartridge receiving portions; and

locking the gap adjustment member to the mounting members to-provide the desired staple gap.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

inserting a gauging element into the staple gap; and

manipulating the gap adjustment member in order to adjust the size of the staple gap.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the gap adjustment member is locked into position by at least one of deforming, pining, peening, swagging, center punching, welding and adhering the gap adjustment member against at least one of the mounting members.