Abstract: A heart retractor links lifting of the heart and regional immobilization which stops one part of the heart from moving to allow expeditious suturing while permitting other parts of the heart to continue to function whereby coronary surgery can be performed on a beating heart while maintaining cardiac output unabated and uninterrupted. Circumflex coronary artery surgery can be performed using the heart retractor of the present invention. The retractor includes a plurality of flexible arms and a plurality of rigid arms as well as a surgery target immobilizing element. One form of the retractor can be used in minimally invasive surgery, while other forms of the retractor can accommodate variations in heart size and paracardial spacing.

Abstract: In a method for retracting an organ inside the body to provide access for treating a tissue, a retractor having a main envelope which defines a main chamber is positioned in a collapsed state adjacent to the organ to be retracted. The main chamber is subsequently inflated to retract the adjacent organ. A surgical instrument is passed through the main envelope into the main chamber to contact the tissue for treatment.

Abstract: A cannula is extended through the wall of a body cavity by a trocar having a piercing head slidable through the cannula between a condition extending distally from the cannula and a condition retracted within the cannula. A latch releasably secures the piercing head in the extended condition against the force of a spring which normally biases the piercing head to the retracted condition. Resiliently biased plungers extend longitudinally of the piercing head for retraction in response to counterforce as the piercing head advances through the wall of a body passage and extension upon the release of the counterforce. Extension of the plungers upon release of the counterforce functions to release the piercing head for retraction.