US Patent 9370366 Circular stapler with controlled tissue compression

There are provided torque limiting mechanisms for use in tissue clamping surgical instruments. The torque limiting mechanisms generally include a driven member, engageable with an approximating mechanism of the surgical instruments, and having a driven surface and a driving member having a driving surface engageable with the driven surface of the driven member. The driving member is rotatable relative to the driven member such that the driving surface of the driving member slips relative to or dissengages from the driven surface of the driven member at a predetermined engagement pressure.