Patent ID: 8166978

Claim:
A method of manipulating a surgical tool, comprising: forming an incision in body tissue; attaching first and second pledgets to the body tissue near the incision, a suture connecting the first and second pledgets such that a length of the suture extends between the first and second pledgets and is disposed within the body tissue; attaching a manipulation line to body tissue near the incision by attaching a first free end of the manipulation line to the first pledget; introducing the surgical tool through the incision in the body tissue; attaching a second free end of the manipulation line to the surgical tool such that the manipulation line extends between the first pledget and the surgical tool; manipulating the surgical tool to perform a medical treatment procedure; attaching third and fourth pledgets to the body tissue near the incision, a second suture connecting the third and fourth pledgets such that a length of the second suture extends between the third and fourth pledgets and is disposed within the body tissue; attaching a second manipulation line to body tissue near the incision by attaching a first free end of the second manipulation line to the third pledget; and attaching a second free end of the second manipulation line to the surgical tool such that the second manipulation line extends between the third pledget and the surgical tool.