Surgical clamp

1 . A surgical device, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a head, the head comprising an articulating mechanism, the articulating mechanism being operable to move a first jaw between an open position in which the first jaw and a second jaw are separated and substantially non-parallel and a closed position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are substantially adjacent and substantially parallel; and

an elongate, flexible guide body including a first end portion and a second end portion;

wherein the first end portion includes a first ferromagnetic connector, and the second end portion includes a second ferromagnetic connector,

wherein each of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a first substantially straight portion proximate the head, a second substantially straight portion, a third substantially straight portion distant from the head, a first curved portion between the first substantially straight portion and the second substantially straight portion, and a second curved portion between the second substantially straight portion and the third substantially straight portion;

wherein each of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises at least one electrode;

wherein the first jaw includes a first jaw ferromagnetic connector, and the second jaw includes a second jaw ferromagnetic connector; and

wherein the first guide connector is configured to releasably engage the first jaw ferromagnetic connector and the second guide connector is configured to releasably engage the second jaw ferromagnetic connector to form a continuous, closed loop in both the open position and the closed position.

2 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating mechanism is operable to rotate and translate the first jaw between the open position, an intermediate position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated and substantially parallel, and the closed position.

3 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially straight portion, the second substantially straight portion, and the third substantially straight portion of the first jaw are obliquely oriented with respect to each other.

4 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially straight portion, the second substantially straight portion, and the third substantially straight portion of the second jaw are obliquely oriented with respect to each other.

5 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially straight portion, the second substantially straight portion, and the third substantially straight portion of the first jaw are substantially coplanar.

6 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially straight portion, the second substantially straight portion, and the third substantially straight portion of the second jaw are substantially coplanar.

7 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the second substantially straight portion of the first jaw is longer than at least one of the first substantially straight portion of the first jaw and the second substantially straight portion of the first jaw.

8 . The surgical device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are disposed generally distally on the head; and

wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are oriented generally laterally from the head.

9 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, the first substantially straight portion of the first jaw extends generally diagonally distally and laterally away from the head.

10 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the third substantially straight portion of the first jaw extends generally diagonally proximally and laterally away from the second curved portion.

11 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw is rigidly disposed with respect to the shaft.

12 . The surgical device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle disposed proximally on the shaft, the handle comprising an actuator operatively connected to the articulating mechanism.

13 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the articulating mechanism comprises

a first jaw mount coupled to the first jaw, the first jaw mount being movable along a path, wherein movement of the first jaw mount along the path causes rotation and translation of the first jaw mount and the first jaw, thereby moving the first jaw between the open position and the closed position; and

a pivotably mounted crank, the crank operably coupling an actuator linkage to the first jaw mount so that moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank, wherein rotation of the crank moves the first jaw mount along the path.

14 . A guide for a surgical device, the guide comprising:

an elongate, flexible guide body including a first end portion and a second end portion;

a first guide connector disposed on the first end portion; and

a second guide connector disposed on the second end portion;

wherein the first guide connector is selectively releasably connectable to the second guide connector and at least one of a first tip of a first jaw of a surgical device and a second tip of a second jaw of the surgical device;

wherein the second guide connector is selectively releasably connectable to the first guide connector and at least one of the first tip and the second tip; and

wherein, when the first guide connector is connected to the second guide connector, the guide forms a continuous, closed loop;

wherein the first guide connector comprises a first permanent magnet;

wherein the second guide connector comprises a second permanent magnet; and

wherein the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are oriented so that opposite magnetic poles face away from the guide body, thereby allowing the first guide connector and the second guide connector to magnetically couple to one another to form the guide into the continuous, closed loop.

15 . A surgical apparatus, comprising:

a surgical device comprising

a handle,

a shaft extending distally from the handle, and

an end effector disposed proximate a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising the first jaw and the second jaw; and

the guide of claim 14 .

16 . A method of using a surgical device, the method comprising:

positioning an elongate, flexible guide using opposing end couplings to form a continuous, closed loop around right pulmonary veins and left pulmonary veins of a heart;

disengaging the opposing end couplings from one another to discontinue the continuous, closed loop while still extending around at least one of the right pulmonary veins and the left pulmonary veins;

coupling a first of the opposing end couplings to a tip of a first jaw of a clamp;

coupling a second of the opposing end couplings a tip of a second jaw of the clamp;

positioning the first jaw and the second jaw proximate a left atrium of the heart by pulling the guide; and

clamping a portion of the left atrium between the first jaw and the second jaw.