Patent ID: 7735703

Claim:
A surgical stapler and staple assembly, comprising: a first staple, said first staple including a first deformable member; a second staple, said second staple including a second deformable member; a stapler, including: an anvil; a staple cartridge for removably storing said first staple and said second staple; and a sled movable between a first position and a second position; and a first rigid driver configured to receive a driving force thereto and drive said first deformable member into tissue, wherein said first rigid driver is overmolded onto said first staple, and wherein said sled is configured to directly engage said first rigid driver to move said first staple toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said first position and said second position; and a second rigid driver configured to receive a driving force thereto and drive said second deformable member into tissue, wherein said second rigid driver is overmolded onto said second staple, wherein said sled is configured to directly engage said second rigid driver to move said second staple toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said first position and said second position, and wherein said first rigid driver is unconnected to said second rigid driver.