Soft tissue retractor and method for providing surgical access

A method for retracting tissue to temporarily widen a surgically-formed penetration into a body cavity, the method comprising:

• positioning an anchoring frame against a tissue surface within the body cavity adjacent to a surgically-formed penetration so that an opening in the frame is aligned with the penetration;
• and
• manually tensioning a first flexible tissue restraining portion extending from the frame and out of the body cavity through the penetration so as to urge the tissue adjacent to the penetration outwardly and widen the penetration;
• securing the first flexible tissue restraining portion after the tensioning step to maintain tension on the first flexible tissue restraining portion;
• manually tensioning a second flexible tissue restraining portion extending from the frame and out of the body cavity through the pentration so as to urge the tissue adjacent to the penetration outwardly and widen the pentration;
• and
• securing the second flexible tissue restraining portion after the tensioning step to maintain tension on the second flexible tissue restraining portion.

A method for retracting tissue, comprising the steps of:

• forming an incision in a patient's body;
• inserting an anchoring frame into the incision so that at least a portion of the frame is disposed beneath an interior surface of the patient's body;
• and
• applying tension to a first flexible tab extending out of the patient and coupled to the frame to retract tissue and widen the incision.

A method for retracting tissue, comprising the steps of:

• providing an anchoring frame and a tensioning member coupled to the anchoring frame, the anchoring frame having a collapsed position and an expanded position, the anchoring frame being mounted on a holder which holds the anchoring frame in the collapsed position;
• inserting the anchoring frame into a patient's body through an incision using the holder, the anchoring frame being in the collapsed position;
• releasing the anchoring frame from the holder after the inserting step;
• and
• applying tension to the tensioning member thereby retracting tissue around the incision.

A retractor for providing surgical access into a body cavity through a passage in tissue, said retractor comprising:

• an anchoring frame having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening therethrough which defines an axial axis, wherein the anchoring frame is positionable through the passage into the body cavity;
• a flexible tensioning member attached to the anchoring frame and extendable from the anchoring frame out of the body cavity through the passage when the anchoring frame is in the body cavity, said tensioning member being selectively tensionable to spread the tissue radially outwardly from the axial axis;
• and
• an outer frame structure coupled to the tensioning member, the outer frame having a plurality of suture retainers.