Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The invention relates to methods and devices that a surgeon can use to stabilize a beating heart during a surgical operation at the heart. According to the invention, a stabilizing device is passed through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By bringing the device into contact with the heart and exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the movement of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscle is effectively eliminated so that the heart is stabilized and the operating site moves minimally, if at all. In discrete steps, the surgeon typically contacts the stabilization equipment with the heart, assessing the degree of movement in the anastomosis region, and exerting a force on the stabilizer so that contraction of the beating heart creates minimal access movement at the site of operation. By determining the position of the stabilizer in a configuration where the movement of the heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart throughout the duration of the operation. The stabilizer may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless by mechanical, chemical or human action. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizer is attached to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid by any of a variety of techniques, so that the position of the stabilizer is determined by the support and the heart becomes substantially motionless as long as the operation lasts. . The surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart throughout the duration of the operation. The stabilizer may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless by mechanical, chemical or human action. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizer is attached to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid by any of a variety of techniques, so that the position of the stabilizer is determined by the support and the heart becomes substantially motionless as long as the operation lasts. . The surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart throughout the duration of the operation. The stabilizer may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless by mechanical, chemical or human action. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizer is attached to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid by any of a variety of techniques, so that the position of the stabilizer is determined by the support and the heart becomes substantially motionless as long as the operation lasts. .