Material manipulation method and apparatus

A method of positioning material at a target anatomical location during a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tool that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a gripping mechanism operably coupled to the handle, the shaft having a distal end portion;
• placing the material on a first major surface of the distal end portion of the shaft,
• operating the gripping mechanism to apply a linear engaging force to the material so that the material is securely retained on the first major surface;
• advancing the material to the target anatomical location;
• and
• operating the gripping mechanism to remove the linear engaging force from the material thereby deploy the material at the target anatomical location.

A method of positioning material during a medical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the material in engagement with a major side surface on a distal end portion of a shaft;
• moving a distal end portion of a wire in a first direction along a longitudinal central axis of the shaft into engagement with the material to grip the material between the distal end portion of the wire and the major side surface of the distal end portion of the shaft;
• moving the material to a desired location relative to a patient's body while the material is gripped between the distal end portion of the wire and the major side surface of the distal end portion of the shaft;
• and
• moving the distal end portion of the wire in a second direction along the longitudinal central axis of the shaft to release the material for movement relative to the distal end portion of the shaft.