An indicator device (1) for indicating properties of body tissue subjected to surgical stapling as a function of tissue compression time comprises a housing (2), an actuating device (7) received in the housing (2) and having an adjustable compression time setting member (8) and a display device (4) supported by the housing (2) and co-operating with the compression time setting member (8) such that the display device (4) visualizes a tissue property corresponding to a compression time set by the compression time setting member (8), wherein the display device (4) is configured to visualize a reduced thickness feature of the clamped tissue corresponding to the set compression time.
