Patent ID: 8206295

Claim:
An apparatus for grasping and holding tissue comprising: a flexible sheet with walls that define internal top and bottom chambers that adjoin one another and that are moved together as a unitary part during use, the walls including a major top wall opposite a major bottom wall that are both adapted to conform to tissue during use, the top wall constructed of a material impermeable to air flow therethrough and having a first set of holes that allow for air flow therethrough, and the bottom wall constructed of a material impermeable to air flow therethrough and having a second set of holes that allow for air flow therethrough; and a first fluid path supplying a source of suction to the top chamber and the first set of holes in a manner that is independent to suction supplied the bottom chamber and the second set of holes, and a second fluid path supplying a source of suction to the bottom chamber and the second set of holes in a manner that is independent to suction supplied to the top chamber and the first set of holes; wherein the supply of suction to the top chamber and the first set of holes is used to engage and hold tissue adjacent the top wall by suction forces applied through the first set of holes, and the supply of suction to the bottom chamber and the second set of holes is used to engage and hold tissue adjacent the bottom wall by suction forces applied through the second set of holes.