Stabilizer tool for total endoscopic coronary artery bypass

A stabilizer for minimally invasive cardiac surgery comprising:

• a support tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted for insertion through an incised hole to a working space within a patient;
• an articulating hub mounted to the distal end of the support tube, wherein the articulating hub has a proximal end that pivots at the distal end of the support tube around a first axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the support tube;
• a pair of suction arms mounted to the articulating hub at a distal end of the articulating hub, wherein the suction arms are configured to attach to a source of vacuum pressure, wherein the suction arms are configured to adhere to a tissue surface of the patient when receiving the vacuum pressure, wherein the suction arms are configured to pivot at the distal end of the articulating hub in a common plane, and wherein the suction arms have a first keyed surface at their proximal ends;
• and
• a pullcord coupled to the suction arms and extending through the support tube from the articulating hub to the proximal end of the support tube;
• wherein the articulating hub is comprised of a base part and a sliding part, wherein the suction arms are mounted to the sliding part, wherein the base part has a second keyed surface configured to interlock with the first keyed surface;
• wherein the pullcord has a loosened state wherein the first and second keyed surfaces can be spaced apart so that the suction arms can be spread for grasping the tissue, and wherein the pullcord has a tightened state wherein the first and second keyed surfaces are interlocked so that the suction arms are inhibited from pivoting.