Method for forming a staple

1. A method of forming a surgical staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the first staple leg comprises a first end portion, and wherein the second staple leg comprises a second end portion, said method comprising:

supporting the base of the staple;

positioning a staple pocket of an anvil in opposition to the staple, wherein the staple pocket comprises a longitudinal axis;

positioning the first staple leg in an unformed and unheated configuration within a first cup of the staple pocket, wherein the first cup comprises a first inner surface;

positioning the second staple leg in an unformed and unheated configuration within a second cup of the staple pocket, wherein the second cup comprises a second inner surface;

contacting the first inner surface with the first end portion of the first staple leg to bend the first end portion of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base wherein the first staple leg is maintained in the unformed and unheated configuration until a first compressive force is applied to the first end portion of the first staple leg;

contacting the second inner surface with the second end portion of the second staple leg to bend the second end portion of the second staple leg toward a second side of the base, wherein the second side is opposite the first side wherein the second staple leg is maintained in the unformed and unheated configuration until a second compressive force is applied to the second end portion of the second staple leg;

applying the first compressive force to the first end portion of the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and toward the second staple leg;

applying the second compressive force to the second end portion of the second staple leg to bend the second staple leg toward the base and toward the first staple leg;

guiding the first end portion of the first staple leg along a first path defined by a first channeling surface within the first cup of the staple pocket;

guiding the second end portion of the second staple leg along a second path defined by a second channeling surface within the second cup of the staple pocket;

deforming the first staple leg such that the first end portion of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple, wherein the mid-line of the staple is defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg; and

deforming the second staple leg such that the second end portion of the second staple leg crosses the mid-line of the staple.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the first staple leg is deformed in a first direction, wherein the second end portion of the second staple leg is deformed in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein an angle is defined between the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the angle is between approximately 0 . 1 degrees and approximately 90 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first inner surface defines a first plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second inner surface defines a second plane oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to one another.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first cup and the second cup are separated by a sidewall, wherein a first side of the sidewall comprises the first inner surface, and wherein a second side of the sidewall comprises the second inner surface.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising placing a tissue-contacting surface of the anvil against tissue positioned intermediate the staple and the staple pocket, wherein at least a portion of the first inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue-contacting surface, and wherein at least a portion of the second inner surface is perpendicular to the tissue- contacting surface.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

funneling the first staple leg into a final first-deformed position; and

funneling the second staple leg into a final second-deformed position.