Abstract: An improvement is provided in a method for carrying out laparoscopic surgery on an intestine of a patient. The improvement includes establishing discrete magnetic zones within the intestine by having the patient ingest a magnetic medium. An electromagnetic field which can be focused and translated around the patient is induced by means of a particularly-described electromagnet. Poles of the magnetic medium which is within the intestine is attracted to a pole of the electromagnet. The intestine is manipulated by suspension, or retraction, or lengthwise translation of the entire intestine which in a segment-by-segment fashion by the essential step of selectively focusing and translating the electromagnetic field by way of manipulation of said upper electromagnet pole.

Abstract: A novel operating table system is provided herein. The operating table system includes a table formed of non-magnetic material. A support is provided for such table. Magnetic means are provided for applying a magnetic field around a defined area of the table. The magnetic means includes one pole below the table and a second pole disposed a selected spaced-distance above the table. The second pole includes controls for selectively focusing and translating the electromagnetic field by way of manipulation of the second pole.