A surgical stapling system, comprising: a first staple (5020, 6220) formed from a wire, wherein said first staple comprises: a first base (5022, 6222); and a first leg (5021, 6221) extending from said first base; a second staple (5020, 6220) formed from a wire, wherein said second staple comprises: a second base (5022, 6222); and a second leg (5021, 6221) extending from said second base; and a retention matrix (5050, 6250, 6550), comprising: a first matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a first aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said first leg after said first leg has been driven through tissue; and a first retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said first leg and retain said first matrix element in position on said first leg with said first leg unbent; a second matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a second aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said second leg after said second leg has been driven through tissue; and a second retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said second leg and retain said second matrix element in position on said second leg with said second leg unbent; a connecting link connecting said first matrix element and said second matrix element. a first staple (5020, 6220) formed from a wire, wherein said first staple comprises: a first base (5022, 6222); and a first leg (5021, 6221) extending from said first base; a first base (5022, 6222); and a first leg (5021, 6221) extending from said first base; a second staple (5020, 6220) formed from a wire, wherein said second staple comprises: a second base (5022, 6222); and a second leg (5021, 6221) extending from said second base; and a second base (5022, 6222); and a second leg (5021, 6221) extending from said second base; and a retention matrix (5050, 6250, 6550), comprising: a first matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a first aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said first leg after said first leg has been driven through tissue; and a first retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said first leg and retain said first matrix element in position on said first leg with said first leg unbent; a second matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a second aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said second leg after said second leg has been driven through tissue; and a second retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said second leg and retain said second matrix element in position on said second leg with said second leg unbent; a connecting link connecting said first matrix element and said second matrix element. a first matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a first aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said first leg after said first leg has been driven through tissue; and a first retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said first leg and retain said first matrix element in position on said first leg with said first leg unbent; a first aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said first leg after said first leg has been driven through tissue; and a first retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said first leg and retain said first matrix element in position on said first leg with said first leg unbent; a second matrix element (5150, 5250, 5350, 5450, 5550, 5650, 5750, 5850, 5950, 6050, 6150, 6505), comprising: a second aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said second leg after said second leg has been driven through tissue; and a second retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said second leg and retain said second matrix element in position on said second leg with said second leg unbent; a second aperture (5052, 5152, 5252, 5352, 5452, 5552, 5652, 5752, 5852, 5952, 6052, 6152, 6252, 6552) configured to receive said second leg after said second leg has been driven through tissue; and a second retention member (5153, 5253, 5353, 5453, 5553, 5654, 5753, 5853, 5953, 6053, 6153, 6253, 6553) configured to engage said second leg and retain said second matrix element in position on said second leg with said second leg unbent; a connecting link connecting said first matrix element and said second matrix element.