A surgical instrument for being endoscopically or laparoscopically
inserted into a surgical site for simultaneous stapling and severing of
tissue includes force adjusted spacing between an upper jaw (anvil) and a
lower jaw (staple cartridge engaged to an elongate staple channel) so
that the height of staple formation corresponds to the thickness of the
tissue, yet does not exceed the height range that may be accommodated by
the length of the staples. In particular, collapsible staple drivers may
be supported within the cartridge for driving a staple or staples
supported thereon into forming contact with an underside of an anvil
attached to the instrument. As the staples contact the anvil, the drivers
can compress or collapse to control the overall formed height of the
staple or staples based upon the amount of compression forces experienced
by the drivers during the stapling process.