Patent ID: 9498198
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: A61B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method for stabilizing a portion of a patient's heart, said method comprising the steps of: manipulating a stabilizer to apply a stabilizing force to a surface of the heart, wherein the stabilizer is connected and movably mounted to a stable support; positioning a suture under tensile load within a slot of the stable support wherein the slot is bifurcated; and locking a portion of the suture against a wall defining the slot using a suture locking member, wherein the suture locking member comprises a pivotable body having a pivoting end attached to the stable support and a free end extending into the slot and wherein the locking step comprises engaging and urging the suture against the wall with the free end, and wherein the suture is positioned under tensile load in one bifurcation or the other bifurcation of the bifurcated slot.