Apparatus for peritoneal retraction

The present invention concerns an apparatus for lifting the abdominal wall for peritoneal retraction comprising an abdominal wall engaging means (48,50) which is insertable through a small laparoscopic incision of limited area in the abdominal wall and comprises a pair of angle-shaped elements (34,36) movable relative to one another for extension from the exterior of the abdominal wall laterally beyond the limited area of the laparoscopic incision to interiorly engage an extensive area of the abdominal wall, and the apparatus comprises a lifting means (44) to impart lifting force to the abdominal wall through the angle shaped elements.