Patent ID: 8152834

Claim:
A pair of forceps, comprising: (a) a first elongated member including a first head portion and an opposing first handle portion that is angled with respect to the first head portion, the first head portion comprising: (i) a first joint component; (ii) a tissue contacting surface configured to retract an area of soft tissue; (iii) a first recessed groove located distally from the first joint component; and (iv) a first inner jaw surface extending distally from the first recessed groove to a distal end of the first head portion; (b) a second elongated member pivotally connected to the first elongated member, the second elongated member including a second head portion and an opposing second handle portion; the second head portion including (i) a second joint component configured to engage the first joint component so as to pivotally couple the first and second elongated members; (ii) a second recessed groove located distally from the second joint component; and (iii) a second inner jaw surface extending distally from the second recessed groove to a distal end of the second head portion, such that the first and second inner jaw surfaces flare away from each other when the first and second joint components are assembled together and the forceps are in a fully closed configuration, wherein the first and second recessed grooves collectively define a substantially cylindrical gripping chamber with openings located at the tissue contacting surface and an outer surface opposite the tissue contacting surface.