An applicator instrument (1400, 1600) for dispensing surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) comprising: a housing (1406, 1606); a curved shaft (1416, 1616) extending from said housing (1406, 1606), said curved shaft (1416, 1616) having a proximal end adjacent said housing (1406, 1606) and a distal end spaced from said housing (1406, 1606); a plurality of surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) disposed within said curved shaft (1416, 1616) for being dispensed one at a time from said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616); an advancer disposed inside said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and being moveable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1516, 1616), wherein said advancer is adapted to shift said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) one position closer to said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) each time said advancer moves distally; a firing element disposed inside said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and overlying said advancer, said firing element being movable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) for dispensing said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) from said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616); a staging assembly located adjacent said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and being adapted to receive a leading one of said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) from said advancer as said advancer moves distally and to shift said leading surgical fastener (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) into substantial alignment with said firing element when said advancer moves proximally, characterised in that said firing element and said advancer are flexible for conforming to the shape of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) when moving between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1616). a housing (1406, 1606); a curved shaft (1416, 1616) extending from said housing (1406, 1606), said curved shaft (1416, 1616) having a proximal end adjacent said housing (1406, 1606) and a distal end spaced from said housing (1406, 1606); a plurality of surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) disposed within said curved shaft (1416, 1616) for being dispensed one at a time from said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616); an advancer disposed inside said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and being moveable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1516, 1616), wherein said advancer is adapted to shift said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) one position closer to said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) each time said advancer moves distally; a firing element disposed inside said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and overlying said advancer, said firing element being movable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) for dispensing said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) from said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616); a staging assembly located adjacent said distal end of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) and being adapted to receive a leading one of said surgical fasteners (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) from said advancer as said advancer moves distally and to shift said leading surgical fastener (232, 432, 532, 632, 732, 832, 932, 1032, 1132, 1232, 1432) into substantial alignment with said firing element when said advancer moves proximally, characterised in that said firing element and said advancer are flexible for conforming to the shape of said curved shaft (1416, 1616) when moving between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft (1416, 1616).