Patent ID: 6152874
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for stabilizing a predetermined area of the heart of a patient to enable a surgical procedure, comprising:a. bifurcated member comprising elongated and generally parallel prongs, each prong having a proximal end portion and an opposite distal end portion and having a first section and a second section, the first section being adjacent the proximal end portion and terminating in the second section, the second section is adapted to engage the heart and is sized to stabilize the predetermined area of the heart;b. an elongated handle segment having a longitudinal axis and first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the elongated handle segment oriented at an obtuse angle relative to a portion of the bifurcated member;c. a connector on the first end portion of the handle segment for joining the handle segment to the proximal end portions of the prongs of the bifurcated member;d. a first member on the second end portion of the handle segment wherein the first member is rotatable generally about the longitudinal axis of the handle segment and movement of the prongs relative to the handle segment occurs during rotation of the first member; ande. wherein the second section of each of the prongs are oriented generally parallel to each other and the width between each of the prongs is adjustable so that the second section of each prong is movable relative to each other between first and second parallel positions.