A hand-held manual surgical instrument intended to be used to enable retraction of tissues during endoscopic/laparoscopic surgery. It consists of a handle with a slender body connected at the distal end to a retracting mechanism (e.g., inflatable/folding paddle, fan-like spreading mechanism, retracting hook). It is intended to be introduced through a laparoscopic port or endoscopic channel; it is not intended for wound retraction or for tissue cutting. This is a single-use device.