Organ stabilizer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a stabilizing mechanism is mounted on a flexible structure that can be conveniently manipulated to facilitate positioning the stabilizing mechanism in contact with an organ such as a beating heart, and that can then be selectively made rigid relative to a support frame in order to provide rigid support where positioned on the beating heart.
The portion of the stabilizing mechanism that is disposed to contact the heart is covered with a textile material (preferably an absorbent material) to promote improved engagement with the external surface of the heart without significant slippage.
And, the textile material contributes cushioning or padding to inhibit tissue damage at the contact locations on the external surfaces of the organ such as a beating heart.