SURGICAL RETRACTOR, TISSUE STABILIZATION DEVICE AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

摘要

The present invention relates to surgical retractors and devices forstabilizing a predetermined area of the body during a surgical procedure, moreparticularly to surgical retractors and stabilizing devices used in connectionwith minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting surgical procedures,and more specifically to surgical retractors and stabilizing devicesespecially configured for use with each other for such surgical procedureswherein the retractor includes an external rail system which enables thesurgeon to position a stabilization arm on either of the arms or the racksegment of the retractor and also includes a connector which releasablycontrols the rotation of the connector with respect to the retractor and therotation of the stabilization arm with respect to the retractor as well as therotational and sliding movement of the stabilization arm with respect to theconnector upon actuation of a single knob or actuator.