Minimally-Invasive Surgical Method

1 . A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a coronary artery of the heart of a patient, comprising:

providing

a stabilizer,

a suspension attached to said stabilizer, and an anastomosis tool comprising an anvil and a staple holder movable relative to one another, said anastomosis tool attached to said suspension;

applying pressure to the heart with said stabilizer;

moving said anastomosis tool relative to said stabilizer; and

connecting the graft vessel to the coronary artery with said anastomosis tool.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said moving includes rotating at least a portion of said anastomosis tool.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said moving includes translating at least a portion of said anastomosis tool in a direction toward the coronary artery.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said suspension is active, and wherein said moving comprises actuating said suspension.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said suspension is passive, and wherein said moving comprising allowing said suspension to move with motion of the heart.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

inserting said anvil into the coronary artery at a first location; and

creating an opening in the coronary artery at a second location spaced apart from said first location.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a cutter is initially positioned within said anvil; and where said creating is performed by moving at least a portion of said cutter out of said anvil and then longitudinally along at least part of said anvil.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said inserting includes creating an opening in the coronary artery with an incising element positioned at the distal end of said anvil.

9 . A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a coronary artery of a patient, comprising:

stabilizing the heart in proximity to the anastomosis site with a stabilizer; and

connecting the graft vessel to the coronary artery with a tool that is both connected to the stabilizer and movable along with the coronary artery.

10 . A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a coronary artery of a patient, comprising:

providing a stabilizer and an anastomosis tool that is attached to and movable relative to said stabilizer;

pressing said stabilizer against the heart;

rigidly fixing said stabilizer relative to the patient; and

stapling the graft vessel to the coronary artery with said anastomosis tool.