Patent ID: 7060079

Claim:
An instrument for endoscopically, surgically engaging and grasping STFFM of a patient internally remote from a skin access opening and moving the engaged and grasped STFFM relative to the opening, comprising: (a) an elongate insert having first and second ends for insertion of the first end trough an incision or access opening in the STFFM of a patient to a location inside the skin of a patient that is remote from the incision or access opening, leaving the second end of the insert outside the incision or access opening; (b) means including a cavity at the first end of the insert, and partial vacuum delivery means applied via said insert, for delivering a partial vacuum to the cavity for engaging the STFFM in secured contact with said cavity at said first end of said insert internally of the outer surface of the skin and remote from the incision or access opening, with a partial vacuum delivery line provided to the instrument from the second end of the insert; (c) a suturing needle having first and second ends, carried by said insert and carrying a suture therewith; (d) means associated with said second end of said insert for actuating said first end of said needle for piercing the engaged STFFM of (b) above and passing the suture through the STFFM while the STFFM is in partial vacuum-drawn contact with said cavity; (e) means carried by the insert, cooperating with said first end of said needle for engaging and maintaining the suture through the portion of the engaged STFFM after withdrawal of the first end of the needle from the portion of the engaged STFFM; (f) means carried by the second end of the insert for engaging the second end of the needle and withdrawing the first end of the needle from the portion of the engaged STFFM; (g) whereby movement of the first end of the insert relative to the incision or access opening will cause the portion of the engaged STFFM internally of the outer surface of the skin to be correspondingly moved with the first end of the insert; wherein said cavity has at least one hole therethrough for receiving the needle therein, with said hole additionally having sealing means for sealing against the needle when the needle passes into the cavity, to engage the STFFM, to maintain the partial vacuum seal between the cavity hole and the STFFM with the needle in engagement with the STFFM.