CLAMP FOR A FLEXIBLE TUBE, PUMP PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR OPENING SUCH A CLAMP, AND INFUSION KIT PROVIDED WITH SUCH A CLAMP

• US 20100268161A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Vial SAS (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Vial SAS (Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Traversaz, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/284 Lever clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamp (10) for a flexible tube, in particular an infusion tube, composed of a substantially U-shaped plastic band, the free end (111) of the first branch (11′) of the U being bent over, so as to form the head (11) of the clamp, to the free end (121) of the second branch, called the back (12), in such a way that, in the closed position, the free end (121) of the back (12) is situated resting under the free end (111) of the head (11), whereas, in the opened position, the free end (121) of the back (12) is situated at a distance above the free end (111) of the head (11), the clamp having a pair of openings (114, 134) to allow a flexible tube to extend through the clamp and be supported by the latter, and two opposite projections (113, 123) for obturating the flexible tube by compressing it when the clamp is in the closed position. The invention also relates to a pump provided with means for opening a clamp according to the invention, to an infusion kit provided with a clamp according to the invention, and to a combination of a pump according to the invention and an infusion kit according to the invention. According to the invention, locking means (112, 122) are provided in order to ensure that the head end (111) does not move away from the back end (121) when the clamp (10) is in the closed position.

Claims

1. Clamp for a flexible tube that can be opened and closed, in particular, for a tube for perfusion, made of a substantially U-shaped band of plastic material, with the free end of the first branch of the U bent toward the free end of the second branch, called the back, to form the head of the clamp, so that in the closed position, the back end of the back is supported under the free end of the head, whereas in the open position, the free end of the back is above the free end of the head at a distance, the clamp having a pair of openings spaced so as to accommodate a flexible tube going through the clamp and supported by it, and two opposite protrusions to seal off the flexible tube by compressing it when the clamp is in the closed position, means being provided to move the head end away from the back end by exerting pressure on the head end parallel to the surface where the two ends overlap in order to open the clamp when it is in the closed position, wherein locking means are provided so as to prevent the head end from moving away from the back end when the clamp is in the closed position when pressure is alone exerted on the head end.

2. Clamp according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a tab located on the head end and a recess located on the back end, the tab and the recess being arranged so that in the closed position of the clamp, the tab goes into the recess, an actuation element preferably being provided on the end of the head.

3. Clamp according to claim 1, wherein an insert is provided in one of the openings of the clamp to receive the end of the flexible tube, the insert being integral with the clamp.

4. Clamp according to claim 3, wherein the insert is equipped with an end fitting for attaching another flexible tube.

5. Clamp (10) according to claim 3, wherein the insert is provided with a groove on its outer circumference, the two opposite edges of the clamp opening being received in this groove.

6. Clamp according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal groove is provided on the outer face of the back.

7. Pump for perfusion equipped with a door that can be opened and closed so as to place or take out a flexible tube equipped with a clamp according to claim 1, the pump being equipped with means for opening or closing a clamp comprising a pivoting lever equipped with at least one head cam to move the head end away from the back end of a clamp located inside the pump, wherein the lever is equipped with means for unlocking the locking means of the clamp.

8. Pump according to claim 7, which is equipped with means for closing the clamp when the door is opened.

9. Pump (20) according to claim 7, wherein the unlocking means consist of a back cam, the head cam and the back cam being disposed on the lever pivot shaft so that when the lever is actuated to open the clamp, first the back cam presses on the back of the clamp until the clamp locking means are unlocked and it holds the clamp in this position, then the head cam moves the head end far enough away to leave room for the end of the back to go through, after which the back cam releases the pressure on the back of the clamp, and lastly, the head cam releases the end of the head.

10. Pump (20) according to claim 7, wherein the lever is placed in the door of the pump.

11. Pump according to claim 7, wherein the lever is additionally equipped with a hook able to cooperate with a roller located on the pump housing in order to keep the door closed.

12. Pump according to claim 11, wherein the door is equipped with a return element that serves to move the hook into the closed position as soon as the clamp opening and closing means have placed the clamp in the open position.

13. Pump according to claim 7, wherein a support is provided on the pump housing for snapping in the clamp insert.

14. Perfusion set made up of a flexible tube going through a clamp according claim 1.

15. Set according to claim 14, wherein two flexible tubes with different characteristics are connected to one another by means of an insert integral with the clamp.

16. Combination of a pump for perfusion according to claim 7 and a flexible tube set for perfusion going through the clamp.