Patent ID: 7931590

Claim:
A device for stabilizing tissue within a patient's body, said device comprising: a shaft having a shaft longitudinal axis; a first contacting member having a first longitudinal axis and extending in a direction along said first longitudinal axis; a second contacting member having a second longitudinal axis and extending in a direction along said second longitudinal axis; wherein said first and second contacting members are mechanically linked to said shaft and movable relative to said shaft via a joint; said contacting members being configured to assume: (a) a low profile configuration in which said first and second longitudinal axes are in first and second positions respectively, in axial alignment with said shaft and in substantial coaxial alignment when viewed along a plane; and (b) a working configuration in which said first and second longitudinal axes are spaced apart; wherein upon moving said contacting members from said low profile configuration to said working configuration; said contacting members are spaced apart; and one of said first and second contacting members remains, at least temporarily, in said first or second position assumed in said low profile configuration.