Tissue or organ position system for intra-body use in a patient and methods of positioning tissues or organs within the body of a patient

A method of positioning an anatomic structure at a desired position within the body of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing a suction assembly comprising a collapsible suction head, a flexible suction tube, and a retraction filament, said collapsible suction head being a hollow member having an internal cavity in which a foam insert is located and a peripheral edge extending about the periphery of said cavity, said collapsible suction head including a suction port, said flexible suction tube having a first end including a first opening in fluid communication with said suction port, a second end including a second opening, and a passageway extending between said first and second openings, said retraction filament having a first end and a second end, said first end of said retraction filament being anchored to said flexible suction tube adjacent said second opening;
• introducing said suction assembly through a trocar or other port into the body of the patient, whereupon said collapsible suction head is located within the body of the patient, with a portion of said flexible suction tube and said retraction filament extending out of the body of the patient through the trocar or other port;
• retracting said retraction filament through said trocar or other port from outside the body of the patient to pull said proximal end of said flexible suction tube outside of the body of the patient through an exit port in the body of the patient;
• removing a section of said flexible suction tube contiguous with said second end of said flexible suction tube outside the body of the patient to form a free end of said flexible suction tube and disconnecting said retraction filament from said flexible suction tube;
• connecting a suction adapter to said free end of said flexible suction tube and to a source of suction;
• bringing said peripheral edge of said collapsible suction head is in engagement with the anatomic structure within the body of the patient;
• and
• applying suction at a predetermined value to said interior of said internal cavity and through said foam insert to cause the anatomic structure to be releasably secured by suction to said collapsible suction head.