An apparatus for delivering bioabsorbable fasteners (50) of the type having two cannulated legs (317a, 317b) to secure the two sides of an incision in tissue comprises a housing (25) containing a magazine (200) with one or more fasteners (50) positioned on a reciprocally movable fastener support (270). Needle guide tubes (67a, 67b) and the legs (317a, 317b) of the front-most fastener (50a) are in slidable contact with at least one alignment surface (210a, 210a', 210b, 210b') configured to axially align them. An actuator (40) is operated by a user to move two needles (65a, 65b) within the needle guide tubes (67a, 67b) into a cannulated leg. A timing lever (150) acts on the fastener support (270) in concert with the actuator (40) movement to remove support of the front-most fastener (50a) after the needles (65a, 65b) are inserted. The needle guide tubes (67a, 67b) transfer force to the fastener (50a), to push it out of the magazine (200) and along a path through the center of a bifurcated foot (22, 32), to insert it into the tissue.
