Clamp operable as a hemostasis valve

Claim 1

A clamping device, comprising: an elongate first jaw portion which defines front and back ends and extends along a longitudinal axis; an elongate second jaw portion which defines front and back ends and extends along the longitudinal axis; a first arm which is connected to the first jaw portion and extends in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis; a second arm which is connected to the second jaw portion and extends in generally perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis; and an arcuate spring portion which defines an apex and is connected to the first and second jaw portions in a manner wherein the spring portion extends between the first and second arms and the apex of the spring portion is disposed between the first and second arms and the back ends of the first and second jaw portions; wherein the spring portion normally exerts a biasing force against the firs and second jaw portions which maintains the front ends thereof in contact which each other, with the application of compressive pressure to the back ends of the first and second jaw portions putting the spring portion into torsion and resulting in contact between the first and second arms and the spring portion at a pair of fulcrums disposed between the apex and the front ends which causes the compressive pressure applied to the back ends to overcome the biasing force exerted by the spring portion thus facilitating the separation of the front ends from each other.