Patent ID: 8211011

Claim:
A method of accessing a body organ in a patient via a minimally invasive procedure, the method comprising: accessing a diaphragm through a first incision in an abdomen of the patient, creating an opening in the diaphragm, and advancing an access device through the diaphragm into a thoracic cavity, where the access device comprises at least at least one working channel; forming a temporary cavity by separating adjacent tissue using an end of the access device, where the end of the access device comprises a slot shaped opening extending along a side of the elongate member such that the slot shaped opening increases access to a larger portion of the tissue within the temporary cavity along the side of the elongate member; positioning a rail-member in the temporary cavity, where the rail-member includes a far section that is affixed relative to the access device; and moving a near section of the rail-member distally relative to the access device such that a mid section of the rail-member forms an arcuate profile distal to the access device and over or adjacent to the body organ.