Patent ID: 7264000

Claim:
A method for performing an intervention on a target anatomic structure of a patient body using an implement, said target anatomic structure including a biological tissue, said body defining an abdominal cavity and a thoracic cavity separated by a diaphragm, said thoracic cavity being at least in part protected by a ribcage and containing at least a portion of said target anatomic structure, said diaphragm being at least in part attached to said ribcage, said body also including a non-target anatomic structure, said method comprising the steps of: altering the configuration of said diaphragm to create a passageway leading into said thoracic cavity; introducing said implement at least partially into said thoracic cavity through said passageway in an implement operational configuration; and using said implement while the implement extends through said passageway to perform said intervention on said target anatomic structure, said intervention including performing a coronary artery bypass graft.