APPARAT ZUM ZEITWEILIGEN HALTEN VON KÖRPERGEWEBE

摘要

An improved tissue engagement device such as a suction stabilizer or retractor is provided with one or more suction pods (22) mounted to the distal end of a flexible arm (20). The flexible arm is coupled to a base assembly (24) that includes a fixed portion, which is coupled to a rotatable turret, allowing rotation of the arm relative to the fixed portion of the base assembly. A tensioning mechanism mounted to the turret applies tension to rotationally lock the turret and to lock the arm in its current configuration. If the device is a suction stabilizer, it may carry a spreading/tightening mechanism (21) along with two suction pods (22) and the tensioning mechanism may lock the relative location of the spreading/tightening mechanism relative to the arm. If the device is a suction retractor, the tensioning mechanism may lock a pivotably mounted carrier for a single enlarged suction pod so that the suction pod is held in its desired orientation relative to the arm.