Sterile line clip separation tool

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising stored instructions for fabricating a tool, the instructions when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:

• transmit instructions for the tool to be printed on a three-dimensional (3D) printer, the tool comprising:
• first and second arms, each arm including:
• a distal end comprising a pair of jaws, and
• a proximal end, opposite the distal end, comprising a handle portion;
• a pivot mechanism coupled to the arms, wherein, responsive to a force applied to the handle portions of the arms, the arms rotate relative to each other around the pivot mechanism in a rotational plane such that the distal ends of the arms pivot away from one another and the proximal ends of the arms pivot towards one another;
• and
• a spring biasing the arms to rotate to an equilibrium position in which the pairs of jaws are substantially aligned, wherein the equilibrium position is attained automatically under spring loading once the proximal ends of arms are relieved of loading;
• and
• fabricate the tool using the 3D printer.

A method for using a tool, the method comprising:

• providing the tool, the tool comprising:
• first and second arms, each arm including:
• a distal end comprising a pair of jaws, and
• a proximal end, opposite the distal end, comprising a handle portion;
• a pivot mechanism coupled to the arms, wherein, responsive to application of force to the handle portions of the arms, the arms rotate relative to each other around the pivot mechanism in a rotational plane such that the distal ends of the arms pivot away from one another and the proximal ends of the arms pivot towards one another;
• and
• a spring biasing the arms to rotate to an equilibrium position in which the pairs of jaws are substantially aligned, wherein the equilibrium position is attained automatically under spring loading once the proximal ends of arms are relieved of loading;
• placing a first clip of a plurality of clips in the first jaw;
• placing a second clip of the plurality of clips in the second jaw, the first and second clips connected to one another;
• and
• applying a force to the handle portions of the arms, wherein the first and second clips disconnect from one another responsive to the force.