The present invention relates to devices and methods for the repair of 
hernia. One method for repairing a 
hernia the steps of making an incision through a 
skin layer of a patient near the 
hernia, creating an entrance into the preperitoneal space above the 
peritoneum at a location above the hernia, identifying and freeing a hernia sac, creating a pocket in the preperitoneal space, directing a 
surgical patch down through the incision and into the preperitoneal space, and expanding the 
surgical patch in the preperitoneal space. The method further includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a surgical fastening device through the incision and into the 
surgical patch, actuating the surgical fastening device to drive a 
fastener through the surgical patch and into the tissue of the patient, moving the distal end of the surgical fastening device to another location, actuating the surgical fastening device to drive a second 
fastener through the surgical patch and into the tissue of the patient, and closing the incision with stitches. One surgical apparatus for repairing a hernia includes a 
surgical stapling instrument for applying at least one 
surgical staple to fasten a surgical hernia patch to internal 
body tissue. The 
surgical instrument includes a 
handle assembly have a longitudinal axis. A staple 
cartridge housing is mounted to the 
handle assembly and is adapted to receive the at least one staple. The staple 
cartridge housing is dimensioned for 
insertion through an incision and has a staple 
actuator mechanism for applying the at least one staple into tissue. An actuation mechanism is operatively coupled to the staple 
actuator mechanism to operate the staple actuation mechanism.