Abstract: A delivery system for use in minimally invasive surgery that is made up of a substantially cylindrical hollow sleeve and a hooked deployment rod adapted to slide within the hollow sleeve is provided. The inventive delivery system serves to protect and pass anastomotic devices such as self-closing surgical devices (e.g., self-closing surgical clip assemblies) through laparoscopic and thoracoscopic parts. The subject invention also provides a method for protecting and passing such anastomotic devices through laparoscopic and thoracoscopic parts and for precisely delivering these devices to operating or surgical sites.