Patent ID: 7758500

Claim:
A method for illuminating a body cavity through a passage in tissue, the method comprising: surgically creating a passage to a body cavity through tissue of a body; inserting a flexible ring having an opening through the passage; and retracting the tissue to provide direct visualization of the body cavity through the passage by tensioning at least one flexible tensioning member associated with the flexible ring, wherein retracting the tissue comprises tensioning a plurality of flexible tensioning members associated with the flexible ring, wherein each of the plurality of flexible tensioning members comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of each flexible tensioning member is secured to the flexible ring, wherein retracting the tissue comprises pulling on the second end portion of one or more of the flexible tensioning members, wherein the second end portion done or more of the flexible tensioning members comprises an adhesive, wherein the method further comprises: attaching the second end portion to a position outside of the body cavity, wherein such attachment to the position outside of the body cavity comprises adhering the second end portion via the adhesive to the position outside of the body cavity.