Surgical stapling apparatus

1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a staple cartridge secured to the first jaw and the second jaw having a plurality of staple forming recesses;

the staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface and staple receiving slots defined in the tissue contacting surface, the tissue contacting surface including a first segment and a second segment, each segment being separately movable relative to the first jaw prior to a firing of the surgical stapling apparatus;

at least one biasing member for biasing the segments of the tissue contacting surface; and

a pressure sensor.

2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a component for determining when the pressure is above a threshold value.

3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the component is programmed to stop the motor.

4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor operatively connected to an actuator for firing staples from the staple cartridge.

5. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the motor is in a housing.

6. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a power source in the housing and operatively connected to the motor.

7. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing having an actuator, and an elongated member extending from the housing.

8. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the end effector is configured for selective connection to the elongated member.

9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of a power source and a motor.

10. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the segments of the tissue contacting surface are movable from an initial position spaced from the first jaw to a depressed position adjacent the first jaw.

11. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the tissue contacting surface is closer to the first jaw in the depressed position as compared to the initial position.

12. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one biasing member biases the segments of the tissue contacting surface toward the initial position.

13. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each segment defines at least two staple receiving slots.

14. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are arranged in longitudinally extending parallel rows.

15. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each segment is disposed on one side of a knife slot defined in the first jaw between proximal and distal end portions of the first jaw.

16. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least two staple receiving slots are staggered with respect to one another.

17. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second segments are disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the end effector that extends between proximal and distal end portions of the end effector.

18. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second segments are movable in at least one of a side-to-side direction and a longitudinal direction relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the end effector that extends between proximal and distal end portions of the end effector.