#$%^&*AU2010200990B220120802.pdf#####C :W PorblDCTXB 26K342_1 DOC-12/D3/2010 ABSTRACT A positionable atraumatic internal retraction device having a malleable ring member and a web-like structure is provided. The retraction device operates to temporarily reposition tissues and organs from an operative site to provide clear access and a visual path to the surgeon during both open and minimally invasive surgery. The ring member may be elongated, twisted, folded, bent or deformed to provide an appropriate insertion profile and subsequent functional shape. The ring member may have different bending biases. The web-like structure may be constructed of any elastic material that can stretch and recover from the shaping and reshaping of the ring member. In an embodiment, the ring member has an internal lumen defining a wall and a reinforcement member placed within the lumen. The ring member, the reinforcement member and the internal wall may have a cross-section or profile of any geometric shape to provide a desired bending bias in a preferred plane.3/11 (10
