Claims
- 1. A surgical clamp pad configured to attach to a surgical clamp jaw having an elongate cavity extending longitudinally of the jaw, the pad comprising:
an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw; a flexible elongate attachment member connected to said body and configured for slidable receipt within the elongate cavity of the jaw; and a guide hole extending through the pad for receiving a pull string or pull strap.
- 2. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 wherein the guide hole extends through the attachment member.
- 3. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 wherein the guide hole extends through the elongate body.
- 4. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 wherein the attachment member further comprises a guide tab extending from one pad of the attachment member, the guide hole extending through the guide tab.
- 5. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 further comprising a pull string or pull strap secured through the guide hole.
- 6. The surgical clamp pad of claim 4 further comprising a second guide tab extending from the other end of the attachment member having a second guide hole extending therethrough.
- 7. The surgical pad of claim 1, wherein said elongate body is flexible and capable of conforming to a curvilinear jaw.
- 8. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 wherein said elongate body further comprises an elastomeric material having a surface adapted to engage tissue.
- 9. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1, wherein said attachment member further comprises:
a plurality of stabilizing elements extending from said attachment member, wherein said stabilizing elements are disposed at least partially within said elongate body to internally reinforce said elongate body.
- 10. The surgical clamp pad of claim 1 wherein said attachment member further comprises a discontinuous securing portion.
- 11. A surgical clamp pad configured for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp having a channel extending longitudinally within the jaw, comprising:
an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw; a flexible elongate attachment member, said attachment member having a securing portion configured to extend through the jaw channel, and a stabilizing portion disposed within said elongate body to internally reinforce said body, and; a guide hole extending through the pad for receiving a pull string or pull strap.
- 12. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11 wherein the guide hole extends through the attachment member.
- 13. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11 wherein the guide hole extend through the elongate body.
- 14. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11 wherein the attachment member further comprises a guide tab extending from one end of the attachment member, the guide hole extending through the guide tab.
- 15. The surgical clamp pad of claim 14 further comprising a pull string or pull strap secured through the guide hole.
- 16. The surgical clamp pad of claim 14 further comprising a second guide tab extending from the other end of the attachment member having a second guide hole extending therethrough.
- 17. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11, wherein said elongate body is flexible and capable of conforming to a curvilinear jaw.
- 18. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11, wherein said elongate body further comprises an elastomeric material having a surface adapted to engage tissue.
- 19. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11 wherein said stabilizing portion further comprises one or more stabilizing elements extending into said elongate body.
- 20. The surgical clamp pad of claim 11 wherein said securing portion is discontinuous.
- 21. A surgical clamp pad configured to attach to a surgical clamp jaw having an elongate cavity extending longitudinally of the jaw, the pad comprising:
an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw; and a flexible elongate attachment member connected to said body, the attachment member including a discontinuous securing portion configured for slidable receipt within the elongate cavity of the jaw.
- 22. A surgical clamp pad configured to attach to surgical clamp jaw having a channel extending longitudinally within the jaw, the pad comprising:
an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw; and a flexible elongate attachment member secured to the elongate body, the attachment member including a stabilizing portion disposed within the elongate body to internally reinforce the body and a discontinuous securing portion configured to extend through the jaw channel.
- 23. A method of installing a replaceable surgical clamp pad onto a surgical clamp, comprising the steps of:
providing a surgical clamp pad having a flexible elongate attachment member and a guide hole extending through the pad; providing a surgical clamp having at least one elongate jaw with an outer clamping surface, said jaw having an elongate cavity extending longitudinally therein and configured to slidably receive said attachment member; inserting said attachment member partially into said cavity; and applying tension to the pad at the guide hole to draw the attachment member completely into the cavity, the attachment member thereby securing the pad in place on the jaw clamping surface.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein
said surgical clamp pad providing step further comprises providing a surgical clamp pad having a pull string or pull strap secured through the guide hole, and wherein said tension applying step further comprises applying tension to the pull string or pull strap.
- 25. A method of installing a replaceable surgical clamp pad onto a surgical clamp, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a surgical clamp having at least one elongate jaw, said jaw having an engaging surface and a backing surface, said surfaces generally opposed to one another, an elongate channel extending longitudinally within said jaw and opening to both surfaces, and a breech portion in communication with said channel; (b) providing a surgical clamp pad having an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw, a flexible elongate attachment member, said attachment member having a securing portion extending through the channel and a stabilizing portion disposed within said elongate body to internally reinforce said body, and a guide hole extending through the pad; (c) inserting said pad into said breech; (d) applying tension to the pad at the guide hole to draw the attachment member into the channel, such that the elongate body extends over the engaging surface of the jaw and the securing portion of the attachment member extends through the channel and tracks over the backing surface of the jaw, the attachment member thereby securing the elongate body in place on the jaw.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein
said surgical clamp pad providing step further comprises providing a surgical clamp pad having a pull string or pull strap secured through the guide hole, and wherein said tension applying step further comprises applying tension to the pull string or pull strap.
- 27. A method of removing a replaceable surgical clamp pad from the jaw of a surgical clamp, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a surgical clamp, the clamp having at least one elongate jaw with an outer clamping surface, said jaw having an elongate cavity extending longitudinally therein; and a surgical clamp pad secured to the jaw, the pad having an elongate body extending over the outer surface of the jaw, and a flexible elongate attachment member disposed within the elongate cavity, and a guide hole extending through the pad; (b) applying tension at the guide hole to draw the attachment member from the elongate cavity, thereby removing the pad from the jaw.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said tension applying step further comprises the steps of providing a grasping tool, securing the grasping tool through the guide hole.
- 29. A method of removing a replaceable surgical clamp pad from the jaw of a surgical clamp, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a surgical clamp, the clamp having at least one elongate jaw, said jaw having an engaging surface and a backing surface, said surfaces generally opposed to one another, an elongate channel extending longitudinally within said jaw and opening to both surfaces, and a breech portion in communication with said channel, and a surgical clamp pad secured to the jaw, the pad having an elongate body configured to extend over an outer surface of the jaw, a flexible elongate attachment member having a securing portion extending through the channel and a stabilizing portion disposed within said elongate body to internally reinforce said body, and a guide hole extending through the pad; and (b) applying tension at the guide hole to draw the attachment member from the channel and through the breech portion, thereby removing the pad from the jaw.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said tension applying step further comprises steps of providing a grasping tool, securing the grasping tool through the guide hole, and applying tension to the grasping tool.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/491,237, filed Jan. 25, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No. 09/336,131, filed Jun. 18, 1999, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09594291 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10109435 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09491237 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
09594291 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Parent |
09336131 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09491237 |
Jan 2000 |
US |