Patent ID: 8449449

Claim:
A suction-assisted tissue-engaging device, adapted to be used in performing a medical procedure on a body organ accessed through first and second incisions into a body cavity, comprising: an elongated shaft having a shaft body extending between a proximal shaft handle and a shaft body distal end, the shaft body adapted to be selectively inserted through the first incision to dispose the shaft body distal end within the body cavity or inserted through both the first and second incision to dispose the shaft body distal end outside the body adjacent the second incision while the shaft handle is disposed outside the body adjacent the first incision, a suction head having a suction pad adapted to be coupled to a source of suction to engage the body organ through the application of suction to the body organ; and a fastener comprising a shaft fastener element at the shaft body distal end and a suction head fastener element adapted to attach or detach the suction head to the shaft body distal end via the second incision; wherein the shaft body comprises a suction lumen extending from a suction fitting at the shaft handle adapted to be coupled to a vacuum source to a distal lumen end opening; and wherein the fastener couples the distal lumen end opening to the suction head to apply suction from the vacuum source through the suction lumen to tissue of the body organ contacted by the suction pad to engage the body organ.