A surgical device (1) comprises a tissue compression device (60), a tissue-compression-measurement device, and a feedback controller. The tissue-compression-measurement device is disposed in line with the tissue compression device (60) and is operable to indicate when an amount of the compression force being applied to tissue has reached a pre-determined optimal compression force. The feedback controller is electrically connected to the tissue-compression-measurement device and is operable to receive the indication from the tissue-compression-measurement device that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached. A staple firing procedure is permitted to be carried out on the compressed tissue only when the feedback controller has received the indication that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached.
