Methods and systems for performing thoracoscopic coronary bypass and other procedures

A method of forming an anastomosis between a mammary artery and a coronary artery of a patient, the method comprising:

• creating at least one opening between ribs in the patient's chest;
• dissecting a mammary artery from a wall of the patient's chest using a dissection tool inserted through one of the at least one openings, the dissection tool being manipulated from outside the chest;
• transecting the mammary artery to create a free end;
• viewing the patient's heart through one of the at least one openings to identify a coronary artery;
• connecting the free end of the mammary artery to the coronary artery using an anastomosis tool inserted through one of the at least one openings, the anastomosis tool being manipulated from outside the chest;
• stopping heart contractions;
• and
• maintaining circulation of blood in the patient's arterial system while heart contractions are stopped.

A method of forming an anastomosis between a mammary artery and a coronary artery of a patient, the method comprising:

• creating at least one opening between ribs in the patient's chest, the creating step being carried out so that at least first and second openings are formed in the chest;
• dissecting a mammary artery from a wall of the patient's chest using a dissection tool inserted through one of the at least one openings, the dissection tool being manipulated from outside the chest, the dissection tool being inserted through the first opening and the anastomosis tool being inserted through the second opening;
• transecting the mammary artery to create a free end;
• viewing the patient's heart through one of the at least one openings to identify a coronary artery;
• and
• connecting the free end of the mammary artery to the coronary artery using an anastomosis tool inserted through one of the at least one openings, the anastomosis tool being manipulated from outside the chest.