Tissue retractor and method for using the retractor

In combination with a flexible endoscope having at least one working channel, a tissue retractor for manipulating tissue inside a patient, comprising:

• a body having proximal and distal ends;
• a retraction device having:
• a head connected to said distal end of said body, said head having:
• a first tip half defining at least a first portion of a curved track;
• a second tip half defining at least a second portion of a curved track;
• flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape including a portion with an arcuate shape, each of said needles being disposed slidably within a respective one of said curved tracks;
• and
• a shim disposed between the first tip half and the second tip half, the shim separating the flexible needles from each other while in the respective one of said curved tracks, said two tip halves and said shim defining said curved tracks;
• and
• an actuation device connected to said proximal end of said body and operatively connected to said needles through said body, said actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving said needles to selectively extend said needles out of said head through said curved tracks in substantially opposite directions and withdraw said needles into said head through said curved tracks;
• wherein said body and said retraction device are sized to fit within the working channel of the endoscope.

A tissue retractor, comprising:

• a body having proximal and distal ends;
• a retraction device having:
• a head connected to said distal end of said body, said head defining two opposing openings and having:
• a first tip half defining at least a first portion of a curved track;
• a second tip half defining at least a second portion of a curved track;
• flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape including a portion with an arcuate shape, each of said needles being disposed slidably within a respective one of said curved tracks;
• and
• a shim disposed between the first tip half and the second tip half, the shim separating the flexible needles from each other while in the respective one of said curved tracks, said two tip halves and said shim defining said curved tracks;
• and
• a one-handed actuation device connected to said proximal end of said body and operatively connected to said needles through said body, said actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving said needles to selectively extend said needles out of said head through said curved tracks in substantially opposite directions and withdraw said needles into said head through said curved tracks.