阅读说明：本技术 夹紧装置 (Clamping device ) 是由 费代里科·阿布拉米 于 2018-03-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于物体(30)的夹紧装置,包括柔性支撑板(12),其具有适于搁置在支撑面或患者身体上的第一表面(13)以及与所述第一表面(13)相反的第二表面(14),至少一对夹紧构件以成形薄片(16)的形式从所述第二表面(14)延伸。(A gripping device for objects (30) comprises a flexible support plate (12) having a first surface (13) adapted to rest on a support surface or the body of a patient and a second surface (14) opposite to said first surface (13), at least one pair of gripping members extending from said second surface (14) in the form of a shaped sheet (16).)

1. Clamping device for objects (30), comprising a flexible support plate (12) having a first surface (13) suitable for resting on a support surface or on the body of a patient and a second surface (14) opposite to said first surface (13), forming flaps (16) extending from said second surface (14), characterized in that each of said forming flaps (16) is elastically flexible and lies on a lying plane (pi) orthogonal to said second surface (14), each of said forming flaps (16) having a profile with at least a hollow and a projection (20, 24, 25) to define a concave surface (36) facing said second surface (14) during use, in that it comprises a first group (41) and at least a second group (42) of said forming flaps (16) arranged in alignment along respective positioning axes (X1, X2) parallel to each other, the concave faces (36) of the shaped sheets (16) of the first group (41) and the concave faces (36) of the shaped sheets (16) of the second group (42) define at least one containment compartment (22) aligned along a longitudinal axis (X) interposed between the positioning axes (X1, X2) and configured to contain the object (30), and in that the resting face (π) of the shaped sheets (16) is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) by an angle comprised between 10 ° and 80 °.

2. Clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaped sheets (16) of said first group (41) face said shaped sheets (16) of said second group (42).

3. Clamping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the shaped sheets (16) have a flat development on the respective resting face (pi).

4. Clamping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each shaped sheet (16) of said first group (41) is inclined with respect to the corresponding shaped sheet (16) of said second group by an angle having a magnitude comprised between 20 ° and 160 °.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shaped sheets (16) of said first group (41) are arranged symmetrically with respect to said shaped sheets (16) of said second group (42) with respect to said longitudinal axis (X).

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the shaped sheets (16) of the first group (41) are arranged along the longitudinal axis (X) alternately and offset with respect to the shaped sheets (16) of the second group (42).

7. Clamping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shaped sheet (16) has a connection portion (18) with said supporting plate (12) and at least a first portion (20) projecting from said connection portion (18), defining said at least one concave surface (36), configured to bend and deform in order to hold said object (30) to be clamped.

8. Clamping device according to claim 7, characterized in that said shaped sheet (16) has a second lower projection (24) arranged in cooperation with said first upper projection (20), interposed between said first upper projection (20) and said support plate (12), defining a second concave surface (37) facing said support plate (12).

9. Clamping device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least the second lower projection (24) is provided with at least one cut-out (26) or at least one recess.

10. Clamping device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (12) and the forming foil (16) are made of silicone, polyurethane or other sterilisable plastic material.

11. The clamping device as recited in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support plate (12) has a layer of adhesive corresponding to the first surface (13).

12. The clamping device as recited in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises two or more pairs of shaped sheets (16) arranged two by two facing each other to define a group (41, 42) of two or more containing compartments (22), each containing compartment (22) being suitable for clamping at least one object (30).

13. Combination of a gripping device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and at least one object (30) of oblong shape inserted in the housing compartment (22) of the gripping device (10).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clamping device that allows objects or instruments to be easily and temporarily clamped on flat, inclined or moving surfaces to prevent them from slipping onto the ground.

The invention has particular application, for example, in operating rooms and can be used to temporarily clamp objects or medical instruments, such as scalpels, syringes or electro-medical handpieces, during a surgical procedure on a patient.

In particular, the gripping device according to the invention allows for a quick and repeated placement of said objects, even if they can be easily inserted into or removed from the gripping device with only one hand.

Background

In an operating room, there is a constant need to temporarily clamp objects or instruments used during the performance of surgery on a patient.

In fact, depending on the type and progress of the surgical procedure, the surgeon often has to use a plurality of instruments, which are usually provided and/or possibly replaced by a professional operator.

As a result of the use of multiple instruments, there is an increasing need for a clamping device that allows the surgeon to temporarily and independently rest and clamp some of these instruments while using others.

It is known to provide solutions using a magnetic plate resting in the operating field, allowing to place and clamp instruments with magnetic properties, i.e. metal objects.

However, these solutions become increasingly impractical as more and more surgical instruments are made of plastic or non-magnetic metal materials, making them unable to mate with the magnetic plate.

It is also known to provide solutions using adhesive strips with hook and loop fasteners, which once glued to the cloth of the operating field, can only accommodate and clamp the cable of the electronic medical device inside the hook and loop fastener itself.

However, these solutions do not allow easy repositioning of the electronic medical device.

It is also known to provide solutions using non-woven or plastic laminated bags with adhesive sides, which are arranged on the vertical side surfaces of the operating field. Laminated bags allow instruments or items to be temporarily and easily contained inside them.

However, these solutions do not facilitate the holding and clamping of the electronic medical devices, since when these are equipped with power cables, no proper positioning can be found in the laminated bag.

Many surgical instruments are connected to the machine by cables, through which they are driven and supplied with power. Due to the weight of the cables to which they are attached, they may fall to the ground if not clamped effectively, with the attendant problems of damage to the instruments and loss of sterility.

From the patent US-B-4,606,735 a device is known for holding a flexible tube in a desired position, the flexible tube being connected to a medical device inserted into a patient, adapted to deliver/remove fluids into/from the patient. The retaining means comprise a flexible strip provided with fins extending upwards and provided with a perforated seat aligned in the axial direction, in which the tube can be inserted. The device can include a component of the hook and loop attachment member, while another component can be attached to the patient by adhesive. This solution only allows the placement of a tube sized for insertion into the perforated base and cannot be used to clamp in place instruments or devices having different shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the shape of the seat, while allowing a stable positioning of the tube, is not suitable for allowing its rapid insertion and extraction, and is therefore not very effective for holding and clamping medical instruments that must be continuously supported and taken up again. Furthermore, the particular configuration of the inward inclination, with respect to the flexible strip, does not allow the operator to insert the tube on the seat provided in the fin without the seat being held by the operator himself. This therefore requires the operator to act on the holding device with both hands, which is a particularly disadvantageous aspect.

Clamping devices for cables are also known from documents DE-U-1851657, EP- ｃA-1437812 and JP- ｃA-2004/023817 in completely different technical fields, and for different applications with respect to these of the invention, for the orderly, stable and precise positioning of the cables to prevent them from overlapping or twisting around each other. These devices allow the cables to be quickly inserted inside them, but are configured to prevent their removal as quickly as possible, so as to restrain them in the desired position. Therefore, these solutions are not applicable when medical devices need to be temporarily clamped inside them and then have to be taken up quickly and repeatedly.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a clamping device that can be used for temporarily and easily clamping a plurality of objects or instruments, with or without a power supply cable.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a clamping device that is economical and easy to manufacture, capable of being used on different surfaces and for a plurality of uses.

Another object is to obtain a clamping device that can be sterilized and used in a medical environment or in an operating theatre.

Another object is to obtain a clamping device completely free of metal parts, so that it does not have to be removed if an X-ray examination of the patient is required.

Another object is to obtain a light clamping device that is easy to operate, is inexpensive and therefore replaceable without economic problems.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purpose, the clamping device according to the invention comprises a supporting plate having a first surface adapted to rest on a plane or supporting surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, from which a clamping member extends in the form of a shaped sheet.

According to some embodiments, the support plate is made of a flexible material so as to be able to adapt to a flat or undulating support surface.

According to a variant, the clamping means can be made at least partially of a thermoplastic or silicone polymer.

According to a possible variant, the clamping means can comprise a magnetic band or segment cooperating with the support plate, which allows to attach the clamping means to a plane at least partially made of metal or magnetic material.

According to some embodiments, the shaped laminae are each arranged on a plane orthogonal with respect to the support plate, in particular with respect to the second surface of the support plate.

According to an aspect of the invention, each forming foil is resiliently flexible.

The combination of the orthogonal position and the flexibility of the formed sheet allows for the ability to repeatedly insert/remove objects into/from the clamping device without the need for an operator to act on the formed sheet or hold the support plate. Therefore, these operations can be performed even with only one hand.

According to the invention, the shaped sheet has a profile with at least one hollow and one projection, which defines a concave surface facing the support plate during use. The projection is particularly configured to bend and deform in order to hold an object to be clamped.

According to some embodiments, the gripping device comprises a first group and at least a second group of shaped sheets arranged in alignment along respective positioning axes parallel to each other, so that the concave surfaces of the shaped sheets of the first and second groups define between them a housing compartment aligned along a longitudinal axis interposed between the two positioning axes and configured to house and hold the object to be gripped.

According to other embodiments, the shaped sheets of the first and second sets are arranged in herringbone alignment on the respective two positioning axes with respect to the longitudinal axis; the groups can consist of coherent or alternating rows.

According to other embodiments, the laying face of the shaped sheets is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis by an angle comprised between 10 ° and 80 °. The angle of inclination, in combination with the flexibility of the shaped sheet, facilitates the rapid insertion and removal of the object to be gripped in/from the containment compartment.

These features make the clamping device according to the invention particularly suitable for applications in the medical field for holding medical instruments, such as handpieces or similar instruments used by surgeons in operating rooms. However, the clamping device according to the invention can advantageously be used for holding a plurality of different types of objects, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pens, pencils, scissors or other instruments, tools or objects preferably having an oval development.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheets of the first and second sets face each other with respect to a longitudinal axis.

According to a variant, the shaped sheets are arranged so that the respective projections face the longitudinal axis.

According to some embodiments, the ends of the protrusions of one row or group of the shaped sheets can be substantially in contact with the ends of the protrusions of another row or group of the shaped sheets.

According to some embodiments, the two ends of the two opposite shaped sheets with respect to said longitudinal axis are spaced from each other by a distance that is for example related to the size of the object that must be clamped and depends on the application of the clamping means.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheets have a flat development on the respective resting face.

According to some embodiments, the shaped laminae have a reduced thickness with respect to their extension on the resting face, for example less than 20% or even 10% of the extension, so that they can be deformed under the application of only the weight of the object to be clamped, such as a medical instrument, in order to allow the rapid insertion/removal of the latter in/from the clamping device.

The configuration of the shaped sheets allows in particular their deformation in any direction along and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support plate.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheet can have a second inner lower projection arranged substantially parallel to the first projection, between the first projection and the support plate.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheet can also have a plurality of lower projections arranged parallel to the first upper projections, between the first upper projections and the support plate.

The shaped sheets, together with the respective connections, define a central compartment in which the object to be held can be placed.

According to some embodiments, at least the shaped sheet is made of a flexible material such that the projections are capable of deforming when an object is wedged therein and clamped in place.

According to other embodiments, at least the inner lower second protrusion can be provided with at least one cut-out or at least one notch which makes it more flexible in one direction, preferably in the direction of introduction and removal of the object to be held.

According to a possible variant embodiment, it can be provided that the gripping device has a modular structure and that it comprises two or more pairs of shaped sheets in rows so as to define a plurality of compartments, each compartment being suitable for housing a respective object or instrument.

According to a possible variant, the clamping device has a transverse or axial attachment device, so that it can be connected with other clamping devices.

Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a combination of a gripping device as described above and hereinafter with at least one object inserted in a receiving compartment of the gripping device.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the object has a development which is mainly elliptical and at least partly rigid.

Drawings

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamping device according to an embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of a clamping device according to a possible variant embodiment;

figure 3 is a plan view of a clamping device according to another variant embodiment;

figure 4 is a front view of the clamping device in figure 3;

figure 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the device in figure 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

figures 7 to 9 show front views of a clamping device according to a possible variant embodiment,

fig. 10 is a perspective view of a clamping device according to another variant embodiment.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be readily incorporated into other embodiments without further recitation.

Detailed Description

The embodiments described herein with reference to fig. 1 to 5 relate to a clamping device 10 which allows an object 30 or an instrument, in particular having dimensions suitable for being operated by an operator, to be easily and temporarily clamped.

For example, the gripping device 10 can be advantageously used for gripping an object 30, such as a pen, pencil, scissors, screwdriver, scalpel, syringe, forceps, handpiece, electronic medical probe, etc., although it is not excluded that it can be used for gripping different objects or items, preferably having an oval shape, such as an endoscope or other instrument or tool.

The clamping device 10 according to the invention can preferably be applied in medical areas, such as operating rooms, even if other applications and uses are not excluded. The clamping device 10 can be advantageously used in workstations or the like where several instruments, tools and devices are required to perform certain operations.

The clamping device 10 allows to temporarily hold and clamp an object in a desired position, possibly also on a tilted or moving plane, to prevent it from sliding towards the ground.

The clamping device 10 comprises a support plate 12 provided with a first surface 13 and a second surface 14, the first surface 13 being adapted to rest on a support surface such as a table or an operating table, or possibly a patient, the second surface 14 being opposite the first surface 13, a plurality of clamping members being arranged in the form of shaped laminas 16 on the second surface 14.

According to some embodiments, the support plate 12 is made of a material and dimensions suitable for making it flexible, so as to be able to deform and adapt even to support surfaces that are not flat and have undulations, hollows or protrusions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support plate 12 can be made by molding a polymeric material such as a polyurethane or silicone material. These materials can be sterilized, making the clamping device 10 suitable for use in medical and operating rooms.

According to other embodiments, the thickness of the support plate 12 can depend on the type of material and its characteristics of flexibility and elasticity, for example comprised between 2mm and 8 mm.

For example, in the case of polyurethane or silicone materials, said thickness can be comprised between about 3mm and about 5 mm.

According to some embodiments, a layer of adhesive, such as double-sided tape or glue, can be applied on the first surface 13, which allows to stably attach the clamping device 10 to the support surface on which it is placed.

This is particularly useful when the clamping device 10 is used in an operating room, allowing it to be attached directly to the cloth or bed sheet in the operating field.

According to a possible variant, it can be provided that the support plate 12 is provided with magnetic elements, for example magnetic strips or segments possibly incorporated in a polymer material, acting as magnets. In this way, the clamping device 10 can be attached to a shelf or work surface having magnetic properties.

According to these embodiments, the magnetic strips or segments can be placed spaced apart from each other in order to allow the support plate 12 to bend and even adapt to non-flat support surfaces.

According to some embodiments, the forming foil 16 is made of a flexible material and is capable of bending and deforming to accommodate and hold the object 30 to be clamped.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheet 16 can be made of a plastic material, such as polyurethane, silicone material, etc., which can be advantageously sterilized so as to make it also suitable for use in protected environments, such as medical operations, operating rooms and sterile or pressurized rooms.

In particular, it can be provided that the clamping device 10 is made entirely of a polymer or plastic material of the sterilizable type, so that it can also be used in a magnetic resonance machine or during an X-ray examination of a patient without having to remove it beforehand.

The formed sheet 16 can be stably attached to the support plate 12 or formed integrally therewith.

According to some embodiments, the shaped laminae 16 are respectively arranged on a lying plane pi orthogonal to the second surface 14 of the support plate 12.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheets 16 have a flat development on the respective lying plane pi.

According to some embodiments, the clamping device 10 comprises at least one pair of shaped sheets 16 arranged facing each other.

According to some embodiments, the gripping device 10 comprises a first group 41 and a second group 42 of shaped laminae arranged aligned along respective positioning axes X1, X2 parallel to each other.

According to some embodiments, the lying plane pi of the shaped sheets 16 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X by an inclination angle α 1 comprised between 10 ° and 80 °.

According to a variant embodiment, the lying plane pi of the shaped sheet 16 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X by an inclination angle α 1 comprised between 20 ° and 70 °.

According to other variant embodiments, the lying plane pi of the shaped sheets 16 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X by an inclination angle α 1 comprised between 30 ° and 60 °.

For example, the inclination angle α 1 can be selected according to the size of the object 30 to be held.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheets 16 of the first set 41 face the shaped sheets 16 of the second set 42.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheets 16 are arranged two by two in a mirror image manner with respect to the longitudinal axis X along the support plate 12 between the two positioning axes X1, X2.

According to some embodiments, the formed sheets 16 are arranged in a chevron arrangement on two rows relative to the longitudinal axis X, forming an angle α 2 therebetween.

According to a possible solution, the angle α 2 can be comprised between 20 ° and 160 °, preferably between 40 ° and 140 °.

According to a preferred embodiment, the angle α 2 can be comprised between about 60 ° and about 120 °.

Advantageously, the herringbone arrangement of the shaped sheets 16 defines a preferred position for insertion and removal of the object 30 to be clamped, in order to make these operations quick and efficient.

According to a possible solution, the shaped sheets 16 of the first group 41 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the shaped sheets 16 of the second group 42 along the longitudinal axis X.

According to a possible variant, the shaped sheets 16 of the first group 41 are arranged alternately and offset with respect to the shaped sheets of the second group along the longitudinal axis X.

According to some embodiments, the shaped sheet 16 has a profile with at least one recess and projection 20, 24, 25 to define a concave surface 36 facing the second surface 14 during use.

In particular, the concave surfaces 36 of the shaped sheets 16 of the first group 41 and of the second group 42 define between them at least one housing compartment 22 for the object 30 to be held.

According to some embodiments, the containing compartments 22 are aligned along a longitudinal axis X interposed between the two positioning axes X1, X2 of the first group 41 and of the second group 42 of shaped sheets 16.

According to some embodiments described with reference to fig. 1, the forming foil 16 comprises a connection 18 to the support plate 12, which connection 18 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second surface 14 and is arranged in correspondence with the periphery of the support plate 12.

In this way, between the connections 18 of the shaped sheets 16, respectively in one row and the other, a containment compartment 22 is defined in which the object 30 to be gripped can be inserted.

The shaped sheet 16 further comprises at least a first tab 20, which first tab 20 extends transversely to the connection portion 18 and above the connection portion 18 and has a free end 20a facing the inner side of the support plate 12. The first tab 20 is configured to perform the function of retaining the objects 30 inserted into the containment compartment 22 and deforming and closing them.

According to a possible embodiment, the upper projection 20 can have a section that gradually decreases from the connection portion 18 towards the free end 20a, so as to be more flexible, corresponding to the central region of the gripping device 10, and to facilitate the introduction/removal of the object 30.

According to some embodiments, the end of the upper tab 20 of one row of formed sheets 16 can be substantially in contact with the end of the upper tab 20 of a second row of formed sheets 16.

According to a possible variant, the ends of the upper tabs 20 of two opposite rows of shaped sheets 16 are spaced apart by a distance correlated to the size of the object 30 to be clamped.

The object 30 can be inserted into the clamping device 10 and removed from the clamping device 10 multiple times. In order to insert the object 30 into the gripping device 10, it is sufficient to press it against the upper projections 20 with a pressure sufficient to deform them and define a passage open to the containment compartment 22. When the object 30 is placed therein, the upper projections 20 can return to their original shape, retaining the object 30 therebetween.

According to some embodiments, the shaped laminae 16 have a reduced thickness with respect to the dimension in which they extend over the lying plane pi, so as to be able to deform even only when the weight of the object 30 to be clamped is applied, in order to allow the rapid insertion/removal of the latter into/from the clamping device.

By way of example, the shaped sheet 16 can have a thickness that is comparable to or less than the thickness of the support plate 12, for example comprised between 1mm and 5mm, preferably between 1mm and 3 mm.

The reduced thickness and the configuration of the shaped sheets 16 allow them to deform in any direction both along the longitudinal axis X and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis X.

In this way, the object 30 can be inserted/removed either by moving the object 30 in the axial direction in both directions along the longitudinal axis X, or by moving it up and down along a plane orthogonal to the support plate 12, such as passing through the longitudinal axis X, or vice versa.

According to a variant embodiment described with reference to fig. 2 to 8, the shaped sheet 16 can also comprise at least one second inner lower projection 24.

According to a possible solution, the second lower projection 24 can extend at an intermediate height between the upper projection 20 and the support plate 12.

According to a possible solution, the second lower projection 24 can have an arcuate shape, with a first end connected to the connection portion 18 close to the support plate 12 and a second free end at an intermediate height between the support plate 12 and the upper projection 20.

According to some embodiments, the second lower projection 24 defines a second concave surface 37 facing the support plate 12.

According to other embodiments, the upper and lower projections 20, 24 can define a hollow between them, or a recess 25, defining another clamping member for the object 30 to be clamped.

The presence of the two projections 20, 24 arranged at different heights with respect to the supporting plate 12 makes the device suitable for holding and gripping objects 30 or instruments of different sizes, in particular preventing them from sliding out of the housing compartment 22.

According to other embodiments, illustrated by way of example in fig. 4 and 5, at least the lower projection 24 can be provided with at least one cut 26, or cut, configured to increase the flexibility of the lower projection 24 and facilitate the introduction of the object 30 to be clamped into the clamping device 10.

According to some embodiments, the cut-out 26 extends in a direction perpendicular to the support plate 12 and acts as a hinge for pivoting the lower tab 24, the lower tab 24 being able to rotate with respect to it in a direction opposite to the face on which the cut-out 26 itself is located.

According to some embodiments, the cut-out 26 makes the lower protrusion 24 more flexible in one direction so as to define a single direction of use of the gripping apparatus 10, which makes introduction/removal of the object 30 into/from the gripping apparatus 10 faster and more efficient.

The greater flexibility of the lower tab 24, given by the cut-out 26, allows objects of greater size to be fully inserted into the bottom of the housing compartment 22 of the gripping device 10, in contact with the second surface 14 and thus better gripped by the upper tab 20.

The cut-outs 26 on the lower ledge 24 also allow larger objects 30 to remain clamped in the clamping device 10, preventing the risk of their being expelled therefrom due to insufficient space near the bottom or second surface 14.

According to some embodiments, the support plate 12 can have a rectangular shape, possibly with rounded corners as shown by way of example in fig. 3.

According to a possible variant, such as shown in fig. 1 and 3, the support plate 12 can be provided in the front portion with a shaped profile provided with a recess 28, which can be more or less distinct, enabling the introduction/removal of the object to be facilitated if this recess 28 is located in a position corresponding to the edge of the support surface.

The recesses 28 according to some embodiments can have edges whose slope is related to the slope of the formed sheet 16.

For example, in the case of an object 30 such as a hand piece or other device connected to a cable, the cable can be disposed in the recess 28 while the hand piece or other device or object 30 is clamped in the clamping device 10.

The recess 28 can also help indicate the optimal use position of the gripping apparatus 10, preferably towards the operator.

According to a possible variant embodiment, shown for example in fig. 7, it can be provided that the support plate 12 is provided with a projection or relief 32 arranged along the longitudinal axis X extending from the second surface 14. The projections 32 keep the object 30 to be clamped partially spaced from the support plate 12 itself, reducing the contact surface with the latter. This may be useful in case the clamping device 10 is applied in an operating room where the object 30 to be clamped may be contaminated with biological fluid.

According to another variant, as shown for example in fig. 8, the support plate 12 can be provided with a hollow or groove 34 in which any fluid and biological liquid present on the object 30 to be clamped can be collected.

According to other embodiments, it can be provided that the forming foil 16 has a plurality of inner lower tabs 24a, 24b that are sufficiently flexible to be able to bend and allow different sized objects to be accommodated within the device 10.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the ends of the inner lower projections 24a, 24b of the respective opposite forming sheets 16 are in contact with each other or slightly spaced apart.

According to other embodiments, it can be provided that the inner lower projections 24a, 24b are provided with cuts or cuts 26a, 26b substantially orthogonal or at most slightly inclined to the support plate 12.

The cut-outs 26a, 26b can be more or less deep and possibly in different positions on each inner lower projection 24a, 24b, so as to define different degrees of flexibility of the latter.

According to other embodiments, illustrated by way of example in fig. 10, the gripping device 10 can comprise two or more pairs of grouped shaped sheets 16, arranged facing each other two by two, to define two or more containing compartments 22, each suitable for gripping at least one object 30.

According to other embodiments, it can be provided that the dimensions of the shaped sheets 16 in the two pairs of groups are the same or different, so as to define more or less large containing compartments 22 and to make the gripping device 10 more versatile as regards the type of object 30 to be gripped.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the clamping device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of clamping device, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.