Heart stabilizer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG.
1 shows a system 10 that can perform minimally invasive surgery.
In the preferred embodiment, the system 10 is used to perform a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft (MI-CABG) and other anastomostic procedures.
Although a MI-CABG procedure is shown and described, it is to be understood that the system may be used for other surgical procedures.
For example, the system can be used to suture any pair of vessels.
The system 10 can be used to perform a procedure on a patient 12 that is typically lying on an operating table 14.
Mounted to the operating table 14 is a first articulate arm 16, a second articulate arm 18 and a third articulate arm 20.
The articulate arms 16, 18 and 20 are preferably mounted to the table 14 so that the arms are at a same reference plane as the patient.
Although three articulate arms are shown and described, it is to be understood that the system may have any number of arms.
The first and second articulate arms 16 and 18 each have a surgical instrument 22 and 24, respectively, coupled to a robotic arm 26, respectively.
The third 25 articulate arm 20 has an endoscope 28 that is held by a robotic arm 26.
The instruments 22 and 24, and endoscope 28 are inserted through incisions cut into the skin of the patient.
The endoscope has a camera 30 that is coupled to a television monitor 32 which displays images of the internal organs of the patient.
The first 16, second 18, and third 20 articulate arms are coupled to a controller 34 which can control the movement of the arms.
The controller 34 is connected to an input device 36 such as a foot pedal that can be operated by a surgeon to move the location of the endoscope 28.
The surgeon can view a different portion of the patient by depressing a corresponding button(s) of the pedal 36.
The controller 34 receives the input signal(s) from the foot pedal 36 and moves the robotic arm 26 and endoscope 28 in accordance with the input commands of the surgeon