A special kind of laparoscopic sponge for minimally invasive surgery procedures is disclosed. This laparoscopic sponge device is comprised of specially folded medical-grade weaved cotton gauze, a highly absorbent material, capable of being introduced and retrieved through a port or cannula that has been inserted into a body cavity during laparoscopic surgeries. The novel device can be utilized for one or all the following functions: (a) to dry organ and tissue surfaces, (b) to exert pressure on bleeding capillaries and small vessels for hemostasis, (c) to serve as "surgical peanut" to aid in blunt dissection of tissues, (d) to act as filters during suctioning, (e) to aid in the retraction of heavy organs acting as "cushions" to provide better exposure, and (f) to provide built-in "pouches" for inadvertently spilled gallstones, blood clots, necrotic tissues, or foreign materials such as displaced titanium clips and hemolok that needs to be taken out of the abdominal cavity. This enhanced design provides additional features not present in previous laparoscopic sponge designs. The versatility of this new device will be very helpful to laparoscopic surgeons during the course of minimally invasive surgery, especially difficult ones.
