Abstract: Suction-assisted tissue-engaging devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that apply suction through an arm vacuum lumen of an articulating arm and a suction lumen and ports of a suction member applied to the heart to stabilize or position the heart during a surgical procedure. The articulating arm is manipulated in shape while in a flexible condition or state and maintains the shape in a rigid condition or state. The arm vacuum lumen is not sealed when the articulating arm is in the flexible state and is sealed when the articulating arm is in the rigid state. Distal suction members comprise a pair of distally extending stabilizer pods mounted to be spread apart when the tensioning mechanism is operated to render the articulating arm rigid or a suction pad having flexible appendages or legs having suction ports adapted to be applied against the epicardium at or near the apex of the heart.

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 interface assembly for interconnecting respective housings and output and input drive shafts of a power plant and a vacuum blower by hard mounting, the interface assembly including: an adapter plate secured to a housing of the power plant in rigid and rotationally fixed contact therewith at an output drive shaft thereof; a rigid metal casting interfaced to the adapter plate on the power plant in rigid and rotationally fixed contact therewith, the rigid metal casting further interfaced to a housing of the vacuum blower in rigid and rotationally fixed contact therewith at an input drive shaft thereof, and a rigid coupler assembly interfaced in rigid and rotationally fixed contact to each of the output and input drive shafts for transferring power from the power plant output drive shaft to the vacuum blower input drive shaft.

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.