Methods and apparatus for delivering staples to a target tissue

A fixation device for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue, comprising:

• a handle assembly including a trigger;
• an elongate tube extending distally from the handle assembly, a distal end of the elongate tube including a pair of distally extending pilot-hole forming prongs;
• a staple disposed within the elongate tube and axially deployable from a distal end of the elongate tube, the staple including a first fluke, a second fluke, and a bridge connecting the first fluke and the second fluke;
• a first stake configured to releasably engage the first fluke of the staple and extend proximally therefrom;
• a second stake configured to releasably engage the second fluke of the staple and extend proximally therefrom;
• wherein actuation of the trigger causes the staple to move distally relative to the elongate tube to deploy the staple from the distal end of the elongate tube;
• wherein the first and second flukes are positioned relative to the pair of distally extending pilot-hole forming prongs so that the first and second flukes advance distally into pilot-holes formed by the pair of distally extending pilot-hole forming prongs as the staple is deployed from the distal end of the elongate tube.