Patent ID: 7597706

Claim:
A tissue staple system comprising: a tissue staple comprising two generally parallel legs having a first region defining a first width therebetween and a second region defining a second width therebetween, said second width being narrower than said first width, said legs being connected proximally by an arcuate member and each leg terminating distally in a prong, and having a tissue stop disposed on each prong and spaced from a distal tip thereof; and a stapler comprising a mandrel having a flared portion having a region with a third width that is wider than said second width defined by said staple, said flared portion being configured to deform said staple to expand said prongs outwardly when said second region of said staple is forced distally over said flared portion, and said stapler being configured to deform said staple to a closed configuration wherein said prongs extend toward each other.