SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH JAW FORCE LIMITER

The invention relates a forceps (10) comprising a first jaw member (68); a second jaw member (86), the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) being in opposing relation relative to one another, the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) being relatively movable from a first open position when the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second clamping position when the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a drive rod assembly; and a moveable handle (16) attached to a fixed handle (14), the moveable handle (16) configured to move relative to the fixed handle (14) to move the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) between the first position and the second position, the moveable handle (16) having an actuator (34) with a lost motion connection (58, 42) between the first and second jaw members (68, 86) and the actuator (34), wherein the lost motion connection (58, 42) is configured so that if a force imparted on the drive rod assembly exceeds a predetermined amount of force, the lost motion connection (58, 42) allows the movable handle to return away from the fixed handle (14) to maintain the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) in the second clamped position, and wherein the lost motion connection (58, 42) allows the moveable handle (16) to move towards the fixed handle (14) without the first jaw member (68) moving relative to the second jaw member (86) so that the first jaw member (68) and the second jaw member (86) do not move towards the second clamping position when the moveable handle (16) moves towards the fixed handle (14).