Patent ID: 8679156

Claim:
A method for applying and maintaining optimal tissue compression with a staple, the method comprising: piercing tissue with deformable distal ends of two staple legs, each distal end defining a stapling point shaped to pierce material to be stapled, the two staple legs coupled to each other at base ends thereof by a bridge, the two staple legs and the bridge forming a substantially U-shaped staple body; causing the two staple legs to enter the tissue until the tissue applies a pre-set compressive force within an optimal tissue compression range to a compression device disposed at least partly between the two staple legs, the compression device having: a compression surface movably disposed with respect to the bridge; and a compression resistor: connected to the compression surface; and being formed to resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a force; deforming the two staple legs to maintain at least some of the compressive force between the tissue and the compression device; absorbing forces greater than the pre-set force with the compression resistor; and maintaining the pre-set compressive force to the tissue within the optimal tissue compression range throughout a state change of the tissue.