A tissue closure device comprising a plurality of surgical staples (28a, 28b, 28c) formed over a reinforcing member (30), each fully formed staple comprising a backspan (32) having a longitudinal axis (x-x) a first leg (34) extending from the backspan (32) and a second leg (36) extending from the backspan (32), each of the first and second legs (34, 36) terminating in tissue penetrating tips (38), wherein the first and second legs (34, 36) include respective first portions (42, 44) having a longitudinal axis (y-y) which defines a plane with the longitudinal axis (x-x) of the backspan (32) and respective second portions (46, 48) that extend from the first portions, the second portions respectively forming a bend or a hook which lies outward to the plane defined by the longitudinal axes (x-x, y-y) of the backspan (32) and first portions (42, 44) whereby the second portion of each leg is bent about the reinforcing member (30).
