Surgical forceps

A method for gripping an organ or structure within a body comprising the steps of:

• a) introducing surgical forceps into a body cavity containing the organ or structure, comprising:
• (i) a sanitizable sheet in a folded configuration having a plurality of folds, the folded configuration comprising:
• a first elongate region which transitions to a resilient hinge which transitions to a second elongate region, wherein the first elongate region, the resilient hinge, and the second elongate region are all formed of a same sheet;
• the first elongate region having a first grasper end opposite the resilient hinge;
• the second elongate region having a second grasper end opposite the resilient hinge;
• wherein the resilient hinge applies a spring force to the first elongate region and the second elongate region that biases the forceps in an open configuration where the first grasper end and the second grasper end are spaced from each other;
• and
• wherein application of an external force against the resilient hinge of sufficient magnitude to overcome the spring force of the resilient hinge causes the first grasper end to close against the second grasper end in mutual contact;
• and
• (ii) a mechanism for manipulating the resilient hinge;
• b) applying the external force to cause the first grasper end and the second grasper end to compliantly conform in shape to the organ or structure and grip the organ or structure;
• wherein the sheet is configured with a plurality of panels each defined by spaces between each of the plurality of panels and a plurality of bridging connectors, and wherein each of the plurality of bridging connectors traverses the spaces and connects opposing ends of two adjacent panels of the plurality of panels together at the plurality of folds.