Intra-Abdominally Adjustable Organ Positioning System

Abstract

An intra-abdominally adjustable organ positioning system. The system includes a cord for lifting an organ, such as the liver, during endoscopic surgery, tissue connectors, and an adjustable locking mechanism which allows tightening and loosening of the cord.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical tissue connector system for, in a body interior, moving a first internal body tissue to a position away from a second internal body tissue and then holding the first internal body tissue in the position, said system comprising:
 a first tissue connector ( 298  or any other) that is connectable in the body interior to the first internal body tissue, the second internal body tissue or other internal body tissue and is removable from the internal body tissue;   a second tissue connector ( 296  or other) that is connectable in the body interior to the second internal body tissue and is removable from the second internal body tissue;   a cord connected to the first tissue connector and the second tissue connector with a portion of the cord extending between the first tissue connector and the second tissue connector; and   a locking mechanism disposed on the cord between the first tissue connector and the second tissue connector, said cord passing through the locking mechanism, wherein   the locking mechanism is selectively moveable along the cord toward the second tissue connector and moveable along the cord away from the second tissue connector to adjust the portion of the cord extending between the locking mechanism and the second tissue connector.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is operable to limit movement of the cord through the locking mechanism: 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the locking mechanism is operable to permit movement of the locking mechanism toward the second tissue connector and selectively prevent movement of the locking mechanism away from the second tissue connector. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a housing having an interior bore, with a portion of the cord passing through the bore;
 a block slidably disposed in the housing, said block being slidable from a first position to a second position within the housing, wherein, in said first position, said block impinges on the portion of the cord passing through the bore and wherein, in said second position, said block does not impinge on the portion of the cord passing through the bore, such that the cord is movable through the locking mechanism in a first direction when the block is in the first position. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a housing, with a portion of the cord passing through the housing;
 a block slidably disposed in the housing, said block being slidable from a first position to a second position within the housing, wherein, in said first position, said block impinges on the portion of the cord passing through the housing and wherein, in said second position, said block does not impinge on the portion of the cord passing through the housing, such that the cord is movable through the locking mechanism in a first direction when the block is in the first position. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the bore in a second direction opposite the first direction is prevented when the block is in the first position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the bore in a second direction opposite the first direction is permitted when the block is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a biasing device operable to urge the block to the first position in which the block impinges on the portion of the cord passing through the bore.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction is prevented when the block is in the first position. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction is permitted when the block is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a biasing device operable to urge the block to the first position in which the block impinges on the portion of the cord passing through the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the bore in a second direction opposite the first direction is permitted when the block is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein:
 movement of the portion of the cord passing through the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction is permitted when the block is in the second position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tissue connector and locking mechanism are dimensioned for endoscopic insertion into the body interior, for use of the apparatus in moving the first internal body tissue to the position away from the second internal body tissue and temporarily holding the first internal body tissue in the position and removal from the body interior after use.