Tube clamp device and tube connection device

• US 20060145105A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanushi, Satoshi, Ishida, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/146 by cutting and welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/203 being several single mirrors, e.g. not mounted on the same tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/2046 using a welding mirror which also cuts the parts to be joined, e.g. for sterile welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/2076 perpendicularly to the plane comprising the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/30 Electrical means B29C65/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7802 Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7841 Holding or clamping means for handling purposes clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0018 being sterile
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5221 for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7373 Joining soiled or oxidised materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8167 Quick change joining tools or surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/818 characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the heating means B29C65/24; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/857 Medical tube welding machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91213 and measuring the electrical resistance of a resistive element belonging to said welding jaws, said element being, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91231 of the joining tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91421 of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91431 : the temperature being kept constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91651 : by controlling or regulating the heat generated by Joule heating or induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/961 : involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/007 : Medical tubes other than catheters catheters B29L2031/7542

Abstract

A tube clamp apparatus and a tube connecting apparatus having high durability and improved operability when an operator locks these apparatuses are provided. A tube connecting apparatus comprises a first clamp and a second clamp, each pressing to hold two flexible tubes 8, 9. The tubes are placed at a lower jaw portion of the second clamp and pressed to a flat state by pressing force applied thereto a direction of an arrow A. A hook section 310 having hook portions divided into plural pieces is set up at an upper jaw portion of the second clamp, and the hook portion B 312 is made of a POM elastic member having, on one side thereof, a protruded portion 314 protruded from other adjacent hook portions. When pressing force is applied to the upper jaw portion, the hook portion B 312 protruded from the other adjacent hook portions is elastically deformed and engaged with a POM-made roller B 317 to prevent back-tracking of the hook section 310.

Claims

1. A tube clamp apparatus which presses to hold a flexible tube in a flat state, comprising:

a placement clamp section at which the tube is placed;

a movable clamp section which is movable in a direction of pressing the tube which is placed at the placement clamp section and in a direction of separating from the tube; and

a hook section which is set up at the movable clamp section and which engages the placement clamp section to maintain a pressing state of the movable clamp section against the tube,

wherein the hook section has a plurality of divided hook portions, and wherein at least one of the hook portions has a protruded portion which protrudes toward one side thereof than other hook portions and is made of an elastic member which maintains engagement with the placement clamp section.

2. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is made of resin having a flexure property of bending so as to change its self-shape according to external pressure.

3. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hook section is divided into plural pieces in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the tube placed at the placement clamp section, and wherein another side of the elastic member is fixed to the hook section.

4. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member is disposed at a center of the hook portions which are provided parallel, and where in a material of the other hook portions is made of metal.

5. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the placement clamp section has an engagement member which engages the protruded portion of the elastic member, and wherein a material of the engagement member is made of resin.

6. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the engagement member is a rotatable roller, and wherein the protruded portion of the elastic member slides to contact a circumferential surface of the roller to be located to an engagement maintaining position at which the protruded portion maintains engagement with the roller.

7. A tube clamp apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is set such that reaction force caused at a time of elastic deformation against external force is smaller than pressing force of the hook portions due to the hook section when the movable clamp section presses the tube to a flat state and is larger than or equal to load force against the protruded portion of the engagement member.

8. A tube connecting apparatus which connects flexible tubes each other, comprising:

a holding unit having a placement clamp section at which the tube is placed, a movable clamp section which is movable in a direction of pressing the tube which is placed at the placement clamp section and in a direction of separating from the tube, and a hook section which is set up at the movable clamp section and which engages the placement clamp section to maintain a pressing state of the movable clamp section against the tube;

a cutting unit which cuts the tubes held in a flat state by the holding unit; and

a movement unit which moves the holding unit to change relatively positions of the tubes cut by the cutting unit such that end portions to be connected face each other,

wherein the holding unit has a plurality of divided hook portions at the hook section, and wherein at least one of the hook portions has a protruded portion which protrudes toward one side thereof than other hook portions and is made of an elastic member which maintains engagement with the placement clamp section.

9. A tube connecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holding unit has a first holding section and a second holding section which are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the tubes placed at the placement clamp section, and wherein the cutting unit cuts the tubes between the first holding section and the second holding section.

10. A tube connecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movement unit moves at least one of the first holding section and the second holding section in a direction of the longitudinal direction of the tubes placed at the placement clamp section and in a direction orthogonal to the tubes.

11. A tube connecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the elastic member is made of resin having a flexure property of bending so as to change its self-shape according to external pressure.

12. A tube connecting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is disposed at a center of the hook portions which are provided parallel, and where in a material of the other hook portions is made of metal.