Patent ID: 7479104

Claim:
An organ manipulation apparatus comprising: a suction member configured to exert sufficient force on an organ to move the organ when the suction member is placed against the organ, a relative negative pressure is established in a space between the suction member and the organ, and the suction member is moved; a compliant seal around a perimeter of said suction member, said compliant seal being substantially C-shaped in cross section and deformable to conform to the shape of a surface of the organ upon contact therewith, the C-shape of said compliant seal being formed around a space, wherein said seal compresses when contacted to tissue such that portions of the C-shaped seal move toward one another reducing the volume of the space; a support structure adapted to be substantially rigidly fixed to a relatively immovable object; and a suspension interconnecting said suction member and said support structure, said suspension allowing at least a limited amount movement of said suction member with respect to said support member to accommodate natural movements of the organ.