Tissue retraction device

Abstract

A visceral barrier has a barrier element that is changeable between an opened and a closed configuration. The barrier element may be positioned while in the opened configuration to temporarily reposition the viscera within the body cavity. A method of repositioning the viscera in a body cavity of a patient during a surgical procedure includes providing a visceral barrier, introducing the visceral barrier into the body cavity when the barrier element is in the closed configuration, opening the barrier element to the opened configuration, and positioning the barrier element within the body cavity to reposition the viscera and provide a space for performing a surgical procedure.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A laparoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongate shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft being sized and shaped such that the distal end can pass through a laparoscopic port;   visceral barrier connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft, the visceral barrier comprising a barrier element changeable between an opened and a closed configuration, wherein the barrier element is formed from a malleable material so that a surgeon may easily reshape the barrier element while the barrier element is in the body cavity, and wherein in the opened configuration the barrier element may be positioned to temporarily reposition the viscera within the body cavity to provide a space for performing a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         36 . The laparoscopic surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the visceral barrier is intracorporeally attachable and detachable with the distal end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         37 . The laparoscopic surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein in the in the closed configuration the barrier element is connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft and the barrier element is sized to pass through a laparoscopic port. 
     
     
         38 . The laparoscopic surgical instrument of  claim 37 , wherein elongate shaft comprises a tube, and in the closed configuration the barrier element is substantially retracted within the tube. 
     
     
         39 . The laparoscopic surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the elongate shaft further comprises an actuating rod extending between the proximal and distal ends, the actuating rod being operably connected to the barrier element such that surgeon may change barrier element between the closed configuration and the opened configuration. 
     
     
         40 . The visceral barrier of  claim 35 , wherein the barrier element has a transverse width that substantially spans the width of the patient's body cavity when the barrier element is in the opened configuration. 
     
     
         41 . The visceral barrier of  claim 40 , wherein the barrier element has a vertical height that substantially spans the height of the patient's body cavity when the barrier element is in the opened configuration. 
     
     
         42 . The visceral barrier of  claim 41 , wherein the barrier element comprises a plurality of panels arranged in a row, and at least one hinge, wherein the hinge joins at least one pair of adjacent panels. 
     
     
         43 . The visceral barrier of  claim 42 , wherein the hinge swings in one direction, so that the barrier element resists flexing in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         44 . The visceral barrier of  claim 42 , wherein the hinge includes a detent or a locking feature for holding the barrier element in a desired configuration. 
     
     
         45 . The visceral barrier of  claim 42 , wherein the panels and the hinge of the barrier element are unitarily formed from a plastic. 
     
     
         46 . The visceral barrier of  claim 42 , wherein the panels are sized and formed of a material so that the barrier element can be rolled-up into the closed configuration and unrolled into the opened position. 
     
     
         47 . The visceral barrier of  claim 42 , wherein the panels are sized and formed of a material so that the barrier element may be folded like a concertina. 
     
     
         48 . The visceral barrier of  claim 35 , wherein the barrier element comprises a frame covered with a webbing material. 
     
     
         49 . The visceral barrier of  claim 48 , wherein the frame is collapsible. 
     
     
         50 . The visceral barrier of  claim 49 , wherein the frame is formed from a spring metal or a shape memory metal. 
     
     
         51 . The visceral barrier of  claim 35 , wherein the barrier element is formed from a wire-reinforced elastomer. 
     
     
         52 . The visceral barrier of  claim 51 , wherein the mesh is embedded in an elastomeric or a polymeric material. 
     
     
         53 . The visceral barrier of  claim 35 , further comprising an extendable finger element attached to the barrier element, whereby a projected area of a tissue interface is adjustable. 
     
     
         54 . The visceral barrier of  claim 35 , wherein the barrier element comprises a plurality of nested segments that are telescopically extendable.