Patent ID: 7108703

Claim:
A clamp comprising: a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element; a handle assembly for controlling the opening and closing of the jaws; and a shaft assembly having: a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and a rigid element having a proximal end that is removably coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end that is removably coupled to the gripping assembly; wherein the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent when the proximal and distal ends are coupled to the handle assembly and the gripping assembly, respectively, and wherein the shaft can be bent when the rigid element is removed from the handle assembly and the gripping assembly; and whereby the handle assembly continues to remain operable to control the opening and closing of the jaws when the rigid element is removed from the handle assembly and the gripping assembly.