Diaphragm entry for posterior surgical access

1. An access device for creating a temporary cavity between organs in a body, the access device comprising:

an elongate member having a working channel extending through a distal end of the elongate member to form a distal opening at the distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member having a distal portion adapted for insertion into the body and a proximal portion, the elongate member having sufficient column strength to allow insertion of the distal portion between organs;

a slot shaped opening extending proximally from the distal opening and along a wall of the elongate member at the distal end of the elongate member permitting increased access to the organ adjacent to the slot shaped opening; and

a first expandable member adjacent to the distal portion having a distal end and a proximal end, where upon expansion between organs the first expandable member further separates the organs to form the temporary cavity at the distal end of the elongate member.

2. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of an oval, a rectangle, a circle, a trapezoid, and a square.

3. The access device of claim 1 , where the proximal portion of the elongate member is adapted to allow manipulation of the access device outside of the body.

4. The access device of claim 3 , where the proximal portion of the elongate member comprises a handle that allows for manipulation of the access device.

5. The access device of claim 1 , where a length of the elongate member from a proximal end to the opening is 30 cm.

6. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a shapeable support member located within the elongate member, where the shapeable support member causes the elongated member to retain a shape of the shapeable support member.

7. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one visual element located in a distal portion of the elongate member.

8. The access device of claim 7 , where the visual element is a fiber optic scope.

9. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member comprises at least a first planar surface.

10. The access device of claim 9 , where the first expandable member is on the planar surface of the elongate member.

11. The access device of claim 9 , where the first expandable member is on a surface of the elongate member that is adjacent to the planar surface.

12. The access device of claim 1 , where the working channel of the elongate member comprises a non-circular shape having a height and width, such that the working channel width is not equal to the working channel height.

13. The access device of claim 1 further comprising a locking balloon spaced axially from the first expandable member and located between the expandable member and the proximal portion to secure the device within the body.

14. An access device for creating a temporary cavity between organs in a body, the access device comprising:

an elongate member having a working channel extending through a distal end of the elongate member to form a distal opening at the distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member having a distal portion adapted for insertion into the body and a proximal portion, the elongate member having sufficient column strength to allow insertion of the distal portion between organs where the proximal portion of the elongate member is adapted to allow manipulation of the access device outside of the body and the distal portion of the elongate member is adapted to separate organs when placed therebetween;

a slot shaped opening extending proximally from. the distal opening along a single wall of the elongate member at the distal end of the elongate member permitting increased access to the organ adjacent to the slot shaped opening and the distal opening; and

a first expandable member extending along a length of the distal portion and adapted to expand in a non-uniform radial direction about the elongate member, where upon expansion between organs the first expandable member expands in a direction away from the distal opening of the working channel such that the distal opening is not covered by the expandable member and expansion of the expandable member separated the organs to form the temporary cavity around the distal opening, and where the slot shaped opening extends proximally past an end of the first expandable member.

15. The access device of claim 14 , where the proximal portion of the elongate member comprises a handle that allows for manipulation of the access device.

16. The access device of claim 14 , where the elongate member is tapered towards the distal portion.

17. The access device of claim 14 , where a length of the elongate member from a proximal end to the distal opening is 30 cm.

18. The access device of claim 14 , further comprising a shapeable support member located within the elongate member, where the shapeable support member causes the elongated member to retain a shape of the shapeable support member.

19. The access device of claim 14 , where the elongate member further comprises at least a first inflation lumen therein, and where the first expandable member comprises a first balloon having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, where the first balloon is adapted to inflate to separate the body organs.

20. The access device of claim 19 , where at least a portion of the first balloon extends beyond the distal end of the elongate member.

21. The access device of claim 19 , where a length of the first balloon at a first portion adjacent to the elongate member is less than a length of a second portion of the balloon away from the elongate member.

22. The access device of claim 19 , where a surface of the first balloon located opposite to the elongate member comprises at least one groove when the balloon is expanded.

23. The access device of claim 19 , further comprising a second balloon located on the distal portion.

24. The access device of claim 23 , further comprising a second inflation lumen in the elongate member, where the second inflation lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the second balloon.

25. The access device of claim 23 , where upon expansion the first and second balloon circumferentially surround the distal end of the elongate member.

26. The access device of claim 23 , where the first balloon and second balloon are located substantially 180 degrees circumferentially apart on the elongate member.

27. The access device of claim 23 , where the first and second balloons are spaced apart axially on the elongate member.

28. The access device of claim 23 , further comprising a third balloon located on the elongate member.

29. The access device of claim 23 , where the first and second balloons have substantially rectangular cross sections when viewed co-axially along the elongate member.

30. The access device of claim 23 , where a length of the first balloon is greater than a length of the second balloon.

31. The access device of claim 23 , where the first balloon is configured to expand to a greater maximum size than the second balloon.

32. The access device of claim 19 , where the elongate member comprises a shapeable material.

33. The access device of claim 19 , where the distal portion of the member is curved or angled.

34. The access device of claim 19 , where the elongate member further comprises at least one suction lumen located in a wall thereof, and where the suction lumen terminates in a suction port located at the distal end of the elongate lumen.

35. The access device of claim 19 , where the elongate member further comprises at least one suction lumen located in the working channel, and where the suction lumen terminates in a suction port located at the distal end of the working channel.

36. The access device of claim 19 , further comprising at least one visual element located in a distal portion of the elongate member.

37. The access device of claim 36 , where the visual element is a fiber optic scope.

38. The access device of claim 14 , where the elongate member comprises a non-circular cross-section.

39. The access device of claim 38 , where the cross-section of the elongate member is oval.

40. The access device of claim 38 , where the cross-section of the elongate member is rectangular.

41. The access device of claim 38 , where the elongate member comprises at least a first planar surface.

42. The access device of claim 41 , where the first balloon is on the planar surface of the elongate member.

43. The access device of claim 41 , where the first balloon is on a surface of the elongate member that is adjacent to the planar surface.

44. The access device of claim 14 , where the working channel of the elongate member comprises a non-circular shape having a height and width, such that the working channel width is not equal to the working channel height.

45. The access device of claim 14 , further comprising a locking balloon spaced axially from the first expandable member and located between the expandable member and the proximal portion to secure the device within the body.