| abstract |
An instrument for clamping and cutting an artificial or natural deformable tube capable of being clamped and severed by selectively moving between a first open position, an intermediate partly closed position and a cutting position including scissors members having handles and jaws pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of a pivot member, the jaws including a cutting blade and releasably holding an integrally hinged V clamp, the V clamp including two spread apart arms with ratcheted inner gripping surfaces connected by an arcuate hinge section, means for locking the arms together and means for releasably securing the clamp in the jaws. A cradle support is provided between handle and jaw near the pivot member, and means are provided on the scissors members to push the V clamp axially forward in the jaws, and the edge of the cutting blade is positioned in the jaw above the ratcheted surface of a clamp arm. When the handles are pressed together from a first open position to an intermediate position, the jaws are closed, partially locking the arms of the V clamp while leaving the edge of the cutting blade distance from the center of the clamp, and when the handles are pressed further to a cutting position, the locked V clamp is pushed forward enabling the jaws to close completely and bring down the cutting blade to sever a deformable tube held in the locked arms of the clamp. |