Abstract: A surgical retractor immobilizes tissue at a surgical site. A preferred embodiment of the retractor is used during minimally invasive direct coronary bypass procedures to arrest movement of the grafting site while the heart continues pumping. Tape or thread can be used to connect the artery to the retractor with a holder.

Abstract: A surgical arm system for holding and positioning one or more instruments during a surgical procedure includes at least one quick connect mechanism that beneficially allows for simple and expeditious, yet reliable disassembly and reassembly of the arm by any member of a surgical team without difficulty and without requiring additional tools, but while still ensuring that, following reassembly, the arm is structurally sound, properly dimensioned, and capable of functioning in a highly reliable manner.

Abstract: An illuminated surgical retractor for defining and illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space near a vessel (such as the radial artery or the basilic vein) during a procedure for harvesting the vessel, wherein the illuminated surgical retractor includes a handle member pivotally connected at an acute angle to a first elongate section that has a non-liner shape, and includes a second elongate section releasably connected to the first elongate section, wherein a portion of the second elongate section defines an illumination input end portion, which is optically coupled to a light source to substantially illuminate the second elongate section, and further including an insertion area positioned on the proximal end portion of the first elongate section to allow the second elongate section to be inserted into the first elongate section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved sled assembly for use with surgical retractors and devices for stabilizing a predetermined area of the body during a surgical procedure, more particularly to surgical retractors and stabilizing devices used in connection with coronary artery bypass grafting surgical procedures, and more specifically to a sled assembly having a sled member and mounting mechanism thereon for use with surgical retractors and medical or stabilizing devices especially configured for use with each other for such surgical procedures wherein the retractor includes an external rail system which enables the surgeon to position a stabilization arm system on either of the arms or the rack segment of the retractor and also includes a sled assembly which releasably controls the rotation of the stabilizing device in a three dimensional directions relative to the retractor upon actuation of a single knob or actuator.