A surgical instrument and method for manipulating surgical suture during minimally invasive surgical procedures. Surgical instrument includes an elongate body with a handle at the elongate body's proximal end. Elongate body also includes a distal portion, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and the distal portion includes at least one moveable wire. This wire moves so as to selectively capture and release a suture and suture purchase may be substantially obtained between the wire and the elongate body outer surface. The instrument also includes an actuation mechanism connecting the handle to the wire. The wire is moved via the actuation mechanism and a substantial component of the motion of the wire is eccentric rotation.