Patent ID: 8418907

Claim:
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising: a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners, the cartridge including a tissue contacting surface; an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween; a cam member slidable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners, the cam member having a first level defining a first distance from the tissue contacting surface and movable to a second level defining a second distance from the tissue contacting surface, the second level being different from the first level, the first and second levels being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge; and a cam adjusting member operably associated with the cam member, the cam adjusting member moving the cam member from the first level to the second level in response to a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge sections.