Patent ID: 8038689

Claim:
An intracoelomic suturing and ligating method for use in performing a prostatectomy with a manipulator having an operating unit to be gripped by hand, a connector extending from the operating unit, and a working unit mounted on a distal end of the connector and including a rolling mechanism, a tilting mechanism, and an opening and closing mechanism, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting said working unit into a body cavity in a living body; b) gripping a curved needle with said opening and closing mechanism; c) tilting said opening and closing mechanism with said tilting mechanism; d) placing said opening and closing mechanism near a dorsal vein complex (DVC) within said body cavity; and e) actuating said rolling mechanism to angularly move said opening and closing mechanism while keeping said opening and closing mechanism parallel with said DVC, so as to pierce said curved needle into body tissues of the living body around said DVC until a needle point of said curved needle projects from the body tissues, f) gripping said curved needle projecting from the body tissues with said opening and closing mechanism, g) actuating said rolling mechanism to angularly move said opening and closing mechanism while gripping said curved needle and keeping said opening and closing mechanism parallel with said DVC until said curved needle is pulled out from the body tissues, h) ligating said DVC after said curved needle is removed from the body tissues.