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 therethrough, the elongate member having a distal portion adapted for insertion into the body and a proximal portion, the elongate member being rigid and a column strength to allow insertion of the distal portion between organs;

a slot shaped opening at a distal end of the elongate member, where a portion of the slot shaped opening extends along a side of the elongate member such that the slot shaped opening increases access to organs at the distal end and side of the elongate member, where the working channel exits the elongate member at the slot shaped opening;

a rail-member having a far section, a near section, and a mid section located therebetween, where the far section can be affixed to a portion of the elongate member, the near section being moveable relative to the elongate member, such that distal movement of the near section causes the mid-section of the rail-member to assume an arcuate profile distally to the opening to position the rail-member in a shape to allow independent advancement of separate device over the rail-member.

2. The access device of claim 1 , where the rail-member is sufficiently stiff such that the arcuate profile is formed in substantially a single plane.

3. The access device of claim 1 , where the rail-member comprises a guide-wire.

4. The access device of claim 1 , where the rail member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of shape-memory alloy, a super-elastic alloy, metal alloy, polymer, or polymeric blend of materials.

5. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member further comprises a second working lumen extending therethrough, the second working lumen being separate from the working channel and, where the working lumen exits the elongate member at a separate opening.

6. The access device of claim 5 , where at the proximal portion of the elongate member, the working channel and second working lumen are staggered.

7. The access device of claim 1 , where at the working lumen is smaller in size than the working channel.

8. The access device of claim 1 , where at the working lumen is the same size as the working channel.

9. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a braided support member along the distal portion of the elongate member.

10. The access device of claim 1 , where the braided support member is located within a wall of the elongate member.

11. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the working lumen.

12. The access device of claim 11 , where the valve is located over a proximal opening of the elongate member.

13. 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.

14. The access device of claim 13 , where the proximal portion of the elongate member comprises a handle that allows for manipulation of the access device.

15. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member is tapered towards the distal portion.

16. The access device of claim 1 , where at the proximal portion, the working channel is tapered along a proximal end of the elongate member to increase an area through which instrumentation enters the working channel.

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

18. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a shapeable support member located 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 18 , where the elongated member further comprises a support lumen and where the shapeable support member is slidably located within the support lumen.

20. The access device of claim 1 , where the rail-member is detachable from the elongate member.

21. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member comprises a plurality of apertures configured to seat the far end of the rail-member.

22. The access device of claim 1 , further comprising a first expandable member located at the distal portion and adapted to expand about the elongate member, where upon expansion between organs the first expandable member separates the organs to form the temporary cavity around the opening.

23. The access device of claim 22 , 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.

24. The access device of claim 23 , where the far section of the rail-member is affixed within the first inflation lumen at a distal end of the elongate member.

25. The access device of claim 23 , where at least a portion of the first balloon extends beyond the distal end of the elongate member.

26. The access device of claim 23 , where a length of the first balloon at a first portion adjacent to the elongate member is less than a length of second portion of the balloon away from the elongate member.

27. The access device of claim 23 , where a surface of the first balloon located opposite to the elongate member comprises at least one groove when the balloon is expanded.

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

29. The access device of claim 28 , 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.

30. The access device of claim 28 , where upon expansion the first and second balloon circumferentially surround the distal end of the elongate member.

31. The access device of claim 28 , where the first balloon and second balloon are located substantially 180 degrees circumferentially apart on the elongate member.

32. The access device of claim 28 , where the first and second balloons are spaced apart axially on the elongate member.

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

34. The access device of claim 28 , where the first and second balloons have substantially rectangular cross sections when viewed co-axially along the elongate member.

35. The access device of claim 28 , where a length of the first balloon is greater than a length of the second balloon.

36. The access device of claim 28 , where the first balloon is configured to expand to a greater maximum size than the second balloon.

37. The access device of claim 23 , where the elongate member comprises a shapeable material.

38. The access device of claim 23 , where the distal portion of the member is curved or angled.

39. The access device of claim 23 , 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.

40. The access device of claim 23 , 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.

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

42. The access device of claim 25 , where the visual element is a fiber optic scope.

43. The access device of claim 1 , where the elongate member comprises a noncircular cross-section.

44. The access device of claim 43 , where the cross-section of the elongate member is oval.

45. The access device of claim 43 , where the cross-section of the elongate member is rectangular.

46. The access device of claim 43 , where the elongate member comprises at least a first planar surface.

47. The access device of claim 46 , where the first balloon is on the planar surface of the elongate member.

48. The access device of claim 46 , where the first balloon is on a surface of the elongate member that is adjacent to the planar surface.

49. 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.

50. The access device of claim 22 , where the expandable member comprises at least one strand, where each strand includes a first and second ends connected to the elongate member and a center portion moveable relative to the elongate member.

51. The access device of claim 50 , where the second end of the strand is moveable into and out of the elongate member.

52. The access device of claim 50 , further comprising at least one balloon located on the elongate member.

53. The access device of claims 52 , where the balloon is placed over the strand such that the strand is within an interior of the balloon.

54. The access device of claims 52 , where the balloon is located on a surface of the elongate member that is adjacent to the strands.

55. The access device of claims 52 , where the balloon and stabilizer strands are located on substantially 180 degrees circumferentially apart on the elongate member.

56. The access device of claim 50 , where the strand comprises a malleable shape such that it can conform to stabilize or nest organs without damaging the organs.

57. 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.