What is claimed is:
1. A medical instrument comprising:
a delivery device; and
a retractor including a target tissue anchor and a stabilizing anchor;
wherein the target tissue anchor is adapted to attach to target tissue, wherein the target tissue anchor connects to the delivery device and the stabilizing anchor, wherein the stabilizing anchor is adapted to contact tissue distal the target tissue at a plurality of points, and wherein the stabilizing anchor is adapted to remain in one location relative to a body wall of a patient while a tension mechanism is adapted to pull the target tissue toward the stabilizing anchor and away from the body wall.
2. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tension mechanism connects the target tissue anchor and the stabilizing anchor, wherein the tension mechanism includes at least one of a spring, a string, a wire, a rod, a pulley, and an elastic band.
3. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device includes an overtube and the retractor is at least partially disposed in the overtube.
4. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing anchor has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration.
5. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing anchor is one of an inflatable balloon or an expandable structure comprised of a plurality of wires.
6. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the target tissue anchor includes one of a clip, a suture, a corkscrew, a spike, a hook, a grasper, a staple, an adhesive, a loop, a spiral loop, or a helical loop.
7. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the target tissue anchor connects to a proximal end of the delivery device.
8. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device is adapted to deliver a cutting instrument configured to cut the target tissue, and the retractor is adapted to pull a portion of the target tissue away from a body wall of a patient.
9. A retractor comprising:
a target tissue anchor, wherein the target tissue anchor is adapted to attach to target tissue;
a stabilizing anchor, wherein the stabilizing anchor has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration and is adapted to contact tissue distal the target tissue at a plurality of points; and
a tension mechanism connecting the target tissue anchor and the stabilizing anchor;
wherein, in the expanded configuration, the stabilizing anchor is adapted to remain in one location relative to a body wall of a patient, and the tension mechanism is adapted to pull the target tissue toward the stabilizing anchor and away from the body wall.
10. The retractor of claim 9 , wherein the stabilizing anchor is one of an inflatable balloon or an expandable structure comprised of a plurality of wires.