Patent ID: 7291161

Claim:
A device for clamping tissue comprising: a handle; an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends and being secured to the handle at the proximal end; first and second jaw members carried at the distal end of the shaft and having opposed clamping surfaces; the second jaw member being slidably moveable relative to the first jaw member so the jaw members can be moved between an open position in which the clamping surfaces are spaced apart and a closed position in which the clamping surfaces are spaced apart an amount less than that in the open position, wherein the second jaw member being secured to the first jaw member by a sleeve, the second jaw member being slidably received within the sleeve; an actuating member extending from the handle to one of the jaw members for moving the jaw members between the open and closed positions; a first resilient member associated with at least a selected one of the first jaw member, second jaw member, and the actuating member, the first resilient member being positioned to limit the force exerted on tissue held between the clamping surfaces of the jaws when the jaws are in the closed position; and a second resilient member operable to bias the second jaw member to the open position.