Suspension and retraction system for endoscopic surgery and method for using same

A lateral suspension device comprising:

• a wire guide for supporting a wire;
• a horizontal arm for supporting said wire guide;
• a pivot means for supporting said horizontal arm, said pivot means slidingly receiving said horizontal arm for movement relative thereto, said pivot means being rotatable about a horizontal axis;
• firstlock means for releasably preventing sliding movement of said horizontal arm relative to said pivot means;
• first clamp means, fixedly attached to said pivot means, for clampingly holding an end of a wire;
• second clamp means, slidably attached to said pivot means for movement relative thereto, for clampingly holding an end of a wire;
• gear means for moving said second clamp means relative to said pivot means;
• second lock means, connected to said gear means, for locking said second clamp means in position relative to said pivot means;
• vertical support means for supporting said pivot means above a surgical table;
• third clamp means for releasably connecting said vertical support means to said surgical table.