a method of laparoscopically introducing a piece of surgical mesh into the abdominal cavity of a patient through a small incision . the mesh is tightly rolled after having traction sutures placed therein and being hydrated . the surgical mesh is pulled into a prelubricated insertion tube having been ligated adjacent its proximal end . a grasper is used to pull mesh into the tube . the tube / mesh is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a small incision . once inside the abdomen , the insertion tube is split to release the surgical mesh that may then be used in the surgery . also provided is an insertion tube having a thinned or otherwise weakened region extending along a longitudinal axis thereof . a ripcord extending along the insertion tube from its ligated , proximal end to beyond the distal end is utilized to spilt the insertion tube to facilitate freeing the surgical mesh from within .