An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing and a curved shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed within the curved shaft for being dispensed from the distal end of the curved shaft. An advancer is disposed inside the curved shaft for shifting the surgical fasteners one position closer to the distal end of the curved shaft each time the advancer moves distally. A firing element is disposed inside the curved shaft and is movable between the proximal and distal ends of the curved shaft for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the curved shaft. A staging assembly is adapted to receive a leading one of the surgical fasteners from the advancer as the advancer moves distally to shift the leading surgical fastener into substantial alignment with the firing element when the advancer moves proximally. A firing system for dispensing the leading surgical fastener from the distal end of the curved shaft. The firing system includes an energy storing element coupled with the firing element, wherein the firing system has a firing cycle with a first stage for advancing the firing element toward the distal end of the curved shaft at a first rate of speed and a second stage for advancing the firing element toward the distal end of the curved shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed, and wherein the firing system is adapted to store energy in the energy storing element before the second stage of the firing cycle and transfer the stored energy from the energy storing element to the firing rod during the second stage of the firing cycle.
