A multi-part surgical staple assembly (68) is provided to provide uniform compression across stapled tissues. The staple assembly generally includes a staple (70), a staple plate (86) positionable against a backspan (72) of the staple for engagement with one side of a stapled tissue section and a platen (40) for receipt of tissue penetrating tips (82) of the staple and engageable with an opposite side of a stapled tissue section. The staple plate and platen are provided with holes (88,92,42,46) to receive the legs (74,76) of the staple. In one embodiment, the staple plate is provided with a biasing member (100) to bias the staple plate away from the backspan of the staple and toward the stapled tissue.
