Patent ID: 7582086

Claim:
A surgical clamp comprising: a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a first jaw and a second jaw connected to the shaft for effecting a surgical procedure, the second jaw being pivotably connected to the shaft; c) a locking member operably connected to the second jaw operable to lock the second law against pivoting motion with respect to the first jaw; wherein the jaws have respective first and second clamping surfaces and the jaws are operable to assume: (i) an articulated position wherein the jaws clamping surfaces are separated and not substantially parallel to one another; (ii) an opened position wherein the jaws clamping surfaces are separated and the second jaw is locked against pivoting motion with respect to the first jaw, with the clamping surfaces substantially parallel to one another; and (iii) a closed position wherein the jaws clamping surfaces are adjacent and the second jaw is locked against pivoting motion with respect to the first jaw, with the clamping surfaces substantially parallel to one another; the jaws being movable between the opened and closed positions when the second iaw is locked against pivoting motion with respect to the first jaw.