A surgical stapling system, comprising a staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge comprises: a first staple comprised of a wire, wherein said first staple comprises: a first base; and a first leg extending from said first base; and a second staple comprised of a wire, wherein said second staple comprises: a second base; and a second leg extending from said second base; characterized in that the stapling system further comprises an at least substantially flat sheet of material forming a retention matrix, comprising: a first retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said first leg, wherein said first leg is aligned with said first retention aperture; a first retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said first retention aperture, and configured to engage said first leg to retain said first staple in stapled tissue with the first staple leg received in said first retention aperture and unbent; a second retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said second leg, wherein said second leg is aligned with said second retention aperture; and a second retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said second retention aperture, and configured to engage said second leg to retain said second staple in stapled tissue with the second staple leg received in said second retention aperture and unbent. a first staple comprised of a wire, wherein said first staple comprises: a first base; and a first leg extending from said first base; and a first base; and a first leg extending from said first base; and a second staple comprised of a wire, wherein said second staple comprises: a second base; and a second leg extending from said second base; a second base; and a second leg extending from said second base; characterized in that the stapling system further comprises an at least substantially flat sheet of material forming a retention matrix, comprising: a first retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said first leg, wherein said first leg is aligned with said first retention aperture; a first retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said first retention aperture, and configured to engage said first leg to retain said first staple in stapled tissue with the first staple leg received in said first retention aperture and unbent; a second retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said second leg, wherein said second leg is aligned with said second retention aperture; and a second retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said second retention aperture, and configured to engage said second leg to retain said second staple in stapled tissue with the second staple leg received in said second retention aperture and unbent. a first retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said first leg, wherein said first leg is aligned with said first retention aperture; a first retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said first retention aperture, and configured to engage said first leg to retain said first staple in stapled tissue with the first staple leg received in said first retention aperture and unbent; a second retention aperture formed in the sheet of material and configured to receive said second leg, wherein said second leg is aligned with said second retention aperture; and a second retention member formed from the sheet of material, and defining said second retention aperture, and configured to engage said second leg to retain said second staple in stapled tissue with the second staple leg received in said second retention aperture and unbent.