Surgical instruments for accessing and stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart

摘要

Surgical devices for stabilizing the heart are disclosed which facilitate anastomosis under beating heart conditions. Various instruments or devices may be maneuvered and secured on a retractor device to provide stabilization of the heart. An instrument mount is provided which is preferably configured to accept a surgical instrument, such as a tissue stabilizer, and to allow the instrument to be easily maneuvered to a desired position and subsequently locked into position with a simple operation of a single locking actuator. Further disclosed are stabilizer devices each having at least one surface for contacting the heart and each being adapted to be mounted to the retractor while having the ability to be positioned in the desired location against the heart.

主权项

1. A method for stabilizing a portion of a patient's heart, said method comprising the steps of:
manipulating a stabilizer to apply a stabilizing force to a surface of the heart, wherein the stabilizer is connected and movably mounted to a stable support; positioning a suture under tensile load within a slot of the stable support wherein the slot is bifurcated; and locking a portion of the suture against a wall defining the slot using a suture locking member, wherein the suture locking member comprises a pivotable body having a pivoting end attached to the stable support and a free end extending into the slot and wherein the locking step comprises engaging and urging the suture against the wall with the free end, and wherein the suture is positioned under tensile load in one bifurcation or the other bifurcation of the bifurcated slot.