Patent ID: 7794387

Claim:
A tissue stabilizer comprising: a clamp assembly comprising, a front clamp, a turret mount mounted to the front clamp, a rear clamp slidably coupled to the front clamp, a shaft mounted to one of the front clamp and the rear clamp, a clutch plate mounted to the shaft on a side of the rear clamp opposite the front and an actuator operably coupled to the clutch plate, the actuator being operable to rotate the clutch plate into the shaft to prevent the rear clamp from sliding, wherein the assembly is adapted to be clamped on a retractor; an articulating arm having a tension element extending therethrough; a turret assembly rotatably coupling a proximal end of the articulating arm to the clamp assembly, the turret assembly including a locking mechanism coupled to the tension element, the locking mechanism being capable of applying a tensioning force on the tension element; a head-link assembly; a collet assembly coupled to the tension element, the collet assembly rotatably coupling the head-link assembly to a distal end of the articulating arm, wherein tensioning of the tension element locks the head-link assembly to the collet assembly, locks the articulating arm in position, and locks the turret assembly to the clamp assembly, and wherein loosening of the tension element allows the head-link assembly to rotate relative to the collet assembly, the articulating arm to articulate, and the turret assembly to rotate relative to the clamp assembly.