A surgical clamp or gastric traction device and method for grasping and manipulating the stomach and providing continuous and uniform tension along a predetermined staple line during the serial stapling and stomach transection portions of a laparoscopic gastric sleeve procedure. The clamp typically includes a handle for gripping and manipulating the clamp and the engaged stomach, and a pair of elongated jaws coupled to the handle via a central portion. The pair of elongated jaws include a first jaw member and a second jaw member, and the length of the jaws are substantially equal to the length of a predetermined staple line which spans the stomach from the pyloric area to the area of the Angle of His. In one embodiment, the handle assembly can impart articulating and pivoting motion to the clamp assembly.
