Clamp having bendable shaft

A clamp, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
• and
• a shaft assembly having:
• a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is coupled to the gripping assembly, the flexible shaft defining a bore;
• a cable which extends through the bore of the flexible shaft, the cable 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 retractable generally rigid covering that can be oriented in a first position where the covering exposes a portion of the flexible shaft, and in a second position where the covering completely covers the flexible shaft.

A surgical method, comprising:

• a. providing a clamp, comprising:
• a handle assembly;
• a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
• and
• a shaft assembly having a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is coupled to the gripping assembly, and a retractable rigid covering that completely covers the flexible shaft so that a region of the flexible shaft is generally rigid;
• b. introducing the jaws through a surgical site or a trocar;
• c. closing the jaws to grip a blood vessel;
• d. withdrawing the covering from the flexible shaft so that a portion of the region of the flexible shaft is completely flexible;
• and
• e. moving the handle assembly away from the surgical site.

A clamp comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
• and
• a shaft assembly having:
• a flexible elongate member 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 movable covering coaxial to the elongate member that can be placed in a first position where the covering exposes a portion of the flexible shaft, and in a second position where the covering covers a substantial portion of the flexible shaft.