Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.

Abstract: An injection snare is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention includes an instrument body, an actuator slidably attached to the body, a catheter attached to and extending through the body at a proximal end of the catheter, an injection needle, and a snare. The injection needle is disposed within the catheter and has a proximal end connected to the actuator. A distal end of the injection needle contains a piercing tip. The injection needle is movable within the catheter between a first position wherein the distal end of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the catheter and a second position wherein the distal end of the needle is retracted within said catheter. The snare is attached to the distal end of the injection needle.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) for attachment to a medical device. The connector includes a shaft of electrically conductive material having a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3). Screw threads (4) are disposed on the proximal end of the shaft for attachment of the connector (1) to the device. A longitudinally extending slot (6) extends from the distal end of the connector and forms two legs (7a) and (7b). A pair of shoulders (8a) and (8b) extend from the middle of the connector. The shoulders are adapted to engage internal walls of one type of a female connector. A circumferentially extending recess (9a) and (9b) is disposed adjacent the distal end of the connector. The recess forms a head disposed distally of the recess. The recess is adapted to engage a ring disposed within another type of female socket. The legs are displaceable such that they provide spring engagement of the connector within the female connector by either the circumferentially extending recess or by the shoulders.