Apparatus and method for intra-abdominally moving a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ and then holding the first internal organ in the position without manual input

Abstract

An apparatus including a flexible length of cord and three tissue connectors positioned at the opposite ends of the cord and at an intermediate position of the cord is designed to be laparoscopically inserted through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity, and used to move a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ where the apparatus holds the first internal organ in the position without further manual input, thereby providing surgical access to the second internal organ.

1 . An apparatus for intra-abdominally moving a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ and then holding the first internal organ in the position without manual input, the apparatus comprising:
 a cord having a flexible length with opposite first and second ends;   a first tissue connector at the cord first end;   a second tissue connector at the cord second end; and   a third tissue connector at an intermediate position of the cord between the cord first and second ends;   the first, second and third tissue connectors each being intra-abdominally connectable to intra-abdominal tissue to position the cord in engagement with the first internal organ whereby the cord moves the first internal organ to the position away from the second internal organ and the cord holds the first internal organ in the displaced position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the first, second and third tissue connectors each being removably connectable to intra-abdominal tissue.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cord being a single continuous cord that extends between the first and second tissue connectors.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cord being comprised of a plurality of distinct cord segments connected end to end.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cord having a configuration of a strip.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first and second tissue connectors being needles.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the tissue connector being a “T” bar.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cord being elastic.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the cord being branchless.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first tissue connector being attached to the cord first end, the second tissue connector being attached to the cord second end, and the third tissue connector being attached to the cord at the intermediate position of the cord.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for intra-abdominally moving a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ and then holding the first internal organ at the position without manual input, the apparatus comprising:
 a first cord segment having a flexible length with opposite ends;   a second cord segment having a flexible length with opposite ends;   a first tissue connector;   a second tissue connector;   a third tissue connector;   the first and third tissue connectors being attached to the opposite ends of the first cord segment and the second and third tissue connectors being attached to the opposite ends of the second cord segment.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first, second and third tissue connectors being removably connectable to intra-abdominal tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first and second cord segments being continuous cord segments with an end of the first cord segment being attached to an end of the second cord segment.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first and second cord segments each having a configuration of a strip.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first and second tissue connectors being needles.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the third tissue connector being a “T” bar.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first and second cord segments being elastic.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first and second cord segments each being branchless.   
     
     
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