Chordal sizer

1. A cardiovascular surgical apparatus comprising:

a sleeve including a distal sleeve end, a proximal sleeve end, and a sleeve long axis extending from the distal sleeve end to the proximal sleeve end;

a post including a distal post end and a proximal post end;

a first hook coupled to the distal sleeve end;

a second hook coupled to the distal post end; and

a rotator selected from the group consisting of a dial and a handle, the rotator being configured to rotate one of the first and second hooks;

wherein: the post telescopes distally from within the sleeve and away from the distal sleeve end;

the first hook rotates between 45 and 360 degrees (i) about the sleeve long axis and with respect to the second hook, and (ii) in response to actuation of the rotator;

the first hook includes a projection member that (i) projects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points proximally toward the proximal sleeve end; and

the second hook includes a projection member that (i) projects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points distally away from the proximal sleeve end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first hook connects directly and fixedly to the distal sleeve end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve rotates between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first hook rotates between 45 and 360 degrees about the sleeve long axis in response to the sleeve rotating between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a scale having a measurement that changes in response to the post telescoping distally from within the sleeve and the measurement corresponds to a distance between the first and second hooks.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second hook is distal to the first hook and the first hook is between the second hook and the proximal sleeve end.

7. A cardiovascular surgical apparatus comprising:

a sleeve including a distal sleeve end, a proximal sleeve end, and a sleeve long axis extending from the distal sleeve end to the proximal sleeve end;

a post including a distal post end and a proximal post end;

a first hook coupled to the distal sleeve end;

a second hook coupled to the distal post end; and

a rotator selected from the group consisting of a dial and a handle, the rotator being configured to rotate one of the first and second hooks;

wherein: the post telescopes distally from within the sleeve and away from the distal sleeve end;

the second hook rotates between 45 and 360 degrees (i) with respect to the first hook, and (ii) in response to actuation of the rotator;

the first hook includes a projection member that (i) projects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points proximally toward the proximal sleeve end; and

the second hook includes a projection member that (i) protects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points distally away from the proximal sleeve end.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first hook connects directly and fixedly to the distal sleeve end.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sleeve rotates between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second hook rotates between 45 and 360 degrees about the sleeve long axis in response to the sleeve rotating between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 including a scale having a measurement that changes in response to the post telescoping distally from within the sleeve and the measurement corresponds to a distance between the first and second hooks.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second hook is distal to the first hook and the first hook is between the second hook and the proximal sleeve end.

13. A cardiovascular surgical apparatus comprising:

a sleeve including a distal sleeve end, a proximal sleeve end, and a sleeve long axis extending from the distal sleeve end to the proximal sleeve end;

a post including a distal post end and a proximal post end;

a first hook coupled to the distal sleeve end;

a second hook coupled to the distal post end; and

a rotator selected from the group consisting of a dial and a handle, the rotator configured to rotate one of the first and second hooks with respect to another of the first and second hooks;

wherein:

the post telescopes distally from within the sleeve and away from the distal sleeve end;

at least one of the first and second hooks rotates between 45 and 360 degrees about the sleeve long axis and another of the first and second hooks in response to actuation of the rotator;

the first hook includes a projection member that (i) projects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points proximally toward the proximal sleeve end; and

the second hook includes a projection member that (i) projects outwards and away from the sleeve long axis, and (ii) points distally away from the proximal sleeve end.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first hook connects directly and fixedly to the distal sleeve end.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sleeve rotates between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one of the first and second hooks rotates between 45 and 360 degrees about the sleeve long axis in response to the sleeve rotating between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the post.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one of the first and second hooks rotates between 45 and 360 degrees about the sleeve long axis in response to the post rotating between 45 and 360 degrees with respect to the sleeve.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 including a scale having a measurement that changes in response to the post telescoping distally from within the sleeve and the measurement corresponds to a distance between the first and second hooks.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second hook is distal to the first hook and the first hook is between the second hook and the proximal sleeve end.