A surgical apparatus includes a cartridge； a staple strip held within the cartridge； and staples affixed to the staple strip. Each staple is affixed to the staple strip at a single joint. The staples on each staple strip are arranged in longitudinally-extending rows. The staples in adjacent rows are staggered. A wedge assembly includes a plurality of wedges laterally spaced from one another. Each wedge includes a shear bump on an upper surface. Each of the shear bumps has a first length. The shear bumps are aligned with one another within a distance equal to the first length. The wedge assembly is slidable relative to the staples to cause at least one wedge to make direct contact with at least one of the staples to rotate the staple about the joint, and then break the staple from the joint upon contact between the staple and shear bump.
