Patent ID: 7422136

Claim:
A surgical stapler including a tool assembly having a pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces for deforming a plurality of surgical fasteners through and fastening tissue, the tool assembly being attached at a distal end of the surgical stapler, the surgical stapler comprising: a housing having a fixed handle; a movable handle mounted to said housing and selectively movable relative to said fixed handle from a first position in spaced relation relative to said fixed handle to a second position closer to said fixed handle to actuate the clamping of tissue; a drive assembly including a power source and a motor which engages a coupling member, the coupling member being operatively coupled to the movable handle, wherein movement of the movable handle to a third position activates the motor, the motor being arranged with the coupling member so that activation of the motor advances the coupling member which in turn advances a firing shaft to deploy and deform the surgical fasteners, the drive assembly including a controller, such that the rate at which the motor advances the coupling member is variably controlled in response to the force exerted on the movable handle during movement thereof to the third position.