The central rod will further house a sealing mechanism that can slide along the length of the rod, from the proximal handle to the distal end. This sliding seal will be affixed in place to the abdominal wall, allowing for a functional anchor and pivot point about which the retractor has many degrees of freedom with respect to movement, while still being supported by the seal to the patient's abdomen. A surgeon can choose to use a trocar in lieu of a sliding seal, which will have to be placed on the central before the attachment of the handle grip.