Visceral anchor and method for visceral wall mobilization

A visceral anchor and method for visceral wall mobilization is disclosed. The visceral anchor includes an elongated cross bar to which a suture is attached at a location substantially in the center of the cross bar. The cross bar further includes a helical spring sheath which jackets a rigid rod, the sheath extending beyond the ends of the rod to form flexible ends. An alternative embodiment includes a second suture attached to one of the ends of the cross bar. The sutures are used for orienting the anchor during insertion into and removal from a hollow viscus. The method of visceral wall mobilization includes providing a tract through the skin into a hollow intra-abdominal viscus and inserting the anchor into the viscus lumen. The sutures extend through the tract and the unattached ends remain on the outside of the body. The center suture is pulled to orient the anchor for mobilization of the visceral wall. The end suture is pulled to orient the anchor for removal.