Attachable clamp for use with surgical instruments

Abstract

An attachable clamp for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The attachable clamp comprises a body portion, a first jaw member, a second jaw member and an actuation mechanism. The body portion defines a longitudinal axis and has attachment members configured to attach to an elongate portion of a surgical instrument. Each of the first jaw member and second jaw member extends distally from the body portion. The actuation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member. Actuation of the actuation mechanism moves at least one of the first and second jaw members between an approximated position and an open position with respect to the other jaw member.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of performing surgery on a hollow organ, comprising:
 providing a surgical stapling instrument having curved jaws with an inner side and an outer side; and   attaching a clamp to the surgical stapling instrument.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the clamp includes curved jaws. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the clamp is attached so that the curved jaws of the clamp are disposed on the inner side of the curved jaws of the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including pivoting a trigger of the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including firing staples from one jaw of the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , further including cutting tissue with the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , further including clamping tissue with the curved jaws of the surgical stapling instrument before firing staples. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , further including clamping tissue with the clamp. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including selecting a loading unit, the loading unit including the curved jaws of the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including clamping tissue with the clamp, cleaning out the hollow organ, and firing staples from the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , further including cutting tissue with the surgical stapling instrument after firing staples. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including accessing the lower pelvis. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 33 , further including replacing a replaceable cartridge body of one of the curved jaws of the surgical stapling instrument. 
     
     
         46 . A method of surgically stapling tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a surgical stapling instrument, the surgical stapling instrument including:
 a handle portion; 
 an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle portion; and 
 a first jaw member and a second jaw member disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion, at least one jaw member being movable with respect to the other jaw member between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween; 
   attaching a clamp to the surgical stapling instrument, the clamp including:
 a body portion defining a longitudinal axis; and 
 a first jaw member and a second jaw member disposed adjacent a distal end of the body portion, at least one jaw member of the clamp being movable with respect to the other jaw member between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween; 
 wherein at least one jaw member of the clamp is independently movable with respect to the jaw members of the surgical stapling instrument; 
   moving at least one jaw member of the clamp from an open position toward an approximated position to engage body tissue;   moving at least one jaw member of the surgical stapling instrument from an open position toward an approximated position to engage body tissue; and   actuating at least one of the jaw members of the surgical stapling instrument to staple tissue.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46 , further including performing a rectal washout after moving at least one jaw member of the clamp from an open position toward an approximated position to engage body tissue, and before actuating at least one of the jaw members of the surgical stapling instrument to staple tissue. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 47 , further including cutting tissue with the surgical stapling instrument after stapling tissue. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 47 , wherein the jaw members of the surgical stapling instrument are curved with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the jaw members of the clamp are curved with respect to the longitudinal axis.