Closed-chest stabilization system and methods for minimally invasive heart surgery

A stabilization system for use in a medical procedure comprising:

• a housing structure insertable through a catheter lumen into a patient's body;
• a base portion of the housing structure, the base portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• a securement element on the base portion of the housing structure, the securement element including an actuating mechanism and an engagement surface;
• a first deployment mechanism in the housing structure, the first deployment mechanism operable to extend the base portion so that the securement element engages a tissue in the patient's body, and the first deployment mechanism operable to retract the base portion so that the securement element disengages the tissue in the patient's body;
• a collar disposed between the housing structure and a distal portion of the catheter, the collar including at least one tissue engaging element;
• and
• a second deployment mechanism operably associated with the collar, the second deployment mechanism operable to extend at least one tissue engaging element in the collar to engage the tissue in the patient's body, and the second deployment mechanism operable to retract the at least one tissue engaging element in the collar to disengage the tissue in the patient's body.