Variable length laparoscopic retractor and associated method of use

Claim 1

A laparoscopic retractor device comprising: an elongate rigid frame member insertable through a laparoscopic trocar sleeve into a patient's body; a rigid retractor member pivotably attached to a distal end of said frame member, said retractor member having a free end; an extension element; connector means on said free end of said retractor member for enabling a mounting of said extension element to said free end and only to said retractor member so that an effective length of said retractor member is increased.

Claim 7

A method for use in laparoscopic surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a retractor instrument comprising an elongate frame member and a substantially rigid retractor member movably mounted to said frame member, said retractor member having modification means for modifying the effective length of said retractor member; (b) forming an opening in a patient's abdominal wall; (c) inserting said frame member and said retractor member through said opening; (d) maintaining said retractor member and said frame member in substantially parallel relation to one another during said step of inserting; (e) upon a partial insertion of the retractor instrument into an abdominal cavity of the patient, manipulating the retractor instrument to shift said retractor member so that said retractor member is angled with respect to said frame member; (f) estimating a desired effective length of said retractor member; (g) further manipulating said retractor instrument via said modification means to modify the effective length of said retractor member, said steps of estimating and further manipulating being performed prior to the insertion of said frame member and said retractor member through said opening; (h) manipulating said frame member so that said retractor member with the modified effective length engages a selected internal body organ of the patient; (i) upon engaging the selected internal body organ with said retractor member, exerting a force on said frame member; and (j) maintaining said retractor member in an angled orientation with respect to said frame member during said step of exerting, whereby the position of the selected internal body organ in the abdominal cavity of the patient is shifted.

Claim 8

A method for use in laparoscopic surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a retractor instrument comprising an elongate frame member and a substantially rigid retractor member movably mounted to said frame member, said retractor member having modification means for modifying the effective length of said retractor member; (b) forming an opening in a patient's abdominal wall; (c) inserting said frame member and said retractor member through said opening; (d) maintaining said retractor member and said frame member in substantially parallel relation to one another during said step of inserting; (e) upon a partial insertion of the retractor instrument into an abdominal cavity of the patient, manipulating the retractor instrument to shift said retractor member so that said retractor member is angled with respect to said frame member; (f) estimating a desired effective length of said retractor member; (g) further manipulating said retractor instrument via said modification means to modify the effective length of said retractor member, said steps of estimating and further manipulating being performed prior to the insertion of said frame member and said retractor member through said opening; (h) manipulating said frame member so that said retractor member with the modified effective length engages a selected internal body organ of the patient; (i) upon engaging the selected internal body organ with said retractor member, exerting a force on said frame member; and (j) maintaining said retractor member in an angled orientation with respect to said frame member during said step of exerting, whereby the position of the selected internal body organ in the abdominal cavity of the patient is shifted.