Endoscopic Apparatus for Manipulating Tissue

A method for performing a surgical procedure comprising:

• positioning a pair of first and second ports through an abdominal cavity of a patient;
• inserting an endoscopic apparatus configured for manipulating tissue through the first port, the endoscopic apparatus comprising:
• a housing including a movable handle operatively coupled to a release mechanism operatively coupled to a distal end of a shaft, the shaft defining an axial passageway configured to support at least a portion of the release mechanism;
• and
• a detachable clamp assembly operatively connectable to the distal end of the shaft and an actuation device such that a pair of pivotally connected opposing jaw members are movable from a closed configuration for grasping tissue therebetween to an open configuration for positioning tissue therebetween when the movable handle is moved from a first position to a second position, the clamp assembly including a proximal end operatively coupled to a first end of a suture having a second end connected to a needle;
• inserting a laparoscope through the second port;
• clamping a tissue of interest
• actuating the release mechanism such that the clamping device is detached
• from the endoscopic apparatus;
• removing the endoscopic apparatus from the first port;
• inserting an endoscopic grasping apparatus through the first port;
• and
• grasping at least a portion of the clamping device for subsequent tissue manipulation.