Patent ID: 8679140

Claim:
A surgical clamping device, comprising: first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, the shaft members pivotably coupled to one another and movable relative to one another between an open position and at least one closed position for moving the jaw members between a spaced-apart position and at least one approximated position; a gripping member disposed on the first shaft member; and a gear system disposed on the second shaft member and configured to receive the gripping member and incrementally lock the gripping member in at least one predefined position corresponding to the at least one approximated position of the jaw members, the gear system including: a first gear rotatably connected to the second shaft member; a second gear operably connected to the first gear and movably connected to the second shaft member; and at least one locking member configured to engage one or more notches defined in the second shaft member, wherein upon movement of the first and second shaft members in a first direction, the first gear mechanically engages the gripping member thereby moving the first gear, and, in turn, the second gear such that the at least one locking member engages the notches to progressively lock the first and second shaft members from motion in a second direction.