The invention is an inserter for a staple having a bridge member and opposing open legs and the inserter holds the staple between a pair of cylindrical expanders which splay apart in response to a camming mechanism having a pair of followers that carry the expanders. The followers are activated as they are drawn over the camming ramp in response to a trigger action. The ramp also includes a detent which alerts the user that the staple is engaged in an activated position, and a safety that keeps the followers from returning to the un-loaded position.