Heart stabilizer apparatus and method for use

A surgical instrument for mounting to a base, the instrument comprising:

• a mounting assembly which includes an actuator and a pair of mounting portions which are moved by the actuator;
• an articulating arm extending from the mounting assembly;
• and
• a tool attached to the articulating arm and operatively connected to the mounting assembly, the actuator being moveable to at least first, second and third positions such that:
• upon movement of the actuator to the first position, the instrument is disposed in an initial configuration wherein the mounting portions are relatively positioned to permit removal of the instrument from a base, and the articulating arm is loosely tensioned to permit flexion of the articulating arm;
• upon movement of the actuator to the second position, the instrument is disposed in an intermediate configuration wherein the mounting portions are relatively positioned to loosely attach the instrument to the bas the instrument to be repositioned relative to the base and the articulating arm remains substantially loosely tensioned to permit flexion of the articulating arm;
• and
• upon movement of the actuator to the third position, the instrument is disposed in a secured configuration wherein the mounting portions are relatively positioned to firmly attach the instrument to the base prevent the instrument from being easily repositioned relative to the base and the articulating arm is tensioned thereby substantially fixing the configuration of the articulating arm.