System, Method, and Apparatus for Clamping

• US 20130272773A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Fichera, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,488,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1414 Hanging-up devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/02 Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/16 with adjunctive protector, broken parts retainer, repair, assembly or disassembly feature

Abstract

A protective mechanism for use when gripping a medical device to a rack is provided. A related system and method are also provided. The protective mechanism includes a guide member, a connector, an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the actuation member is pivotally coupled to the guide member. The cover member is pivotally coupled to the guide member and is configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.

Claims

1. A protective mechanism comprising:

a guide member;

a connector;

an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the actuation member pivotally coupled to the guide member; and

a cover member pivotally coupled to the guide member and configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.

2. The protective mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a backstop member disposed on a guide member face, the backstop member approximately perpendicular to the guide member face.

3. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connector is disposed on the backstop member.

4. The protective mechanism of claim 3, wherein the backstop member further comprises a backstop member face, said backstop member face having a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the cover member therein.

5. The protective mechanism of claim 3, wherein the first backstop member further comprises a backstop member face, said backstop member face including an aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the cover member therethrough.

6. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cover member uncovers the connector when the actuation member pivots in the first direction to a first position and in the second direction to a second position, said first direction opposite said second direction and when in the second direction the cover member covers the connector.

7. The protective mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a first compliant gasket coupled to a backstop member, said first compliant gasket configured to encompass the connector.

8. The protective mechanism of claim 7, wherein the cover member includes a perimeter rib adapted to seal against the compliant gasket when the actuation member is in a first position and the connector is covered by the cover member.

9. The protective mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a second compliant gasket coupled to the backstop member.

10. The protective mechanism of claim 9, wherein the cover member includes a perimeter rib adapted to seal against the second compliant gasket when the actuation member is in a second position and the connector is uncovered.

11. The protective mechanism of claim 1, further comprising first and second rail projections, the first rail projection disposed approximately parallel to and in spaced relation to the second rail projection.

12. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein an aperture is defined in the guide member, said aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the actuation member.

13. The protective mechanism of claim 12, further comprising first and second rail projections, the first rail projection and the second rail projection disposed on opposite sides of the aperture of the guide member.

14. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide member defines a recess disposed on a guide member face, the recess of the guide member configured to receive a portion of the actuation member.

15. The protective mechanism of claim 14, further comprising first and second rail projections, each including a respective web portion and a respective head portion, the respective web portion configured to couple the respective head portion to a guide member face, the first and second rail projections disposed on opposite sides of the recess of the guide member.

16. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuation member includes a sloped face, wherein:

the sloped face defines a sloped portion of the actuation member such that a cross-sectional area of the sloped portion of the actuation member increases from the first end portion of the actuation member to a point between the first and the second end portions of the actuation member where the sloped face ends,

when the actuation member is in a first position, the sloped face protrudes from the plane of a guide member face, and

when the actuation member is in a second position, the sloped face lies substantially in the plane of the guide member face.

17. The protective mechanism of claim 16, further comprising at least one actuation spring, wherein:

each of the least one actuation spring has a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein;

the respective first end of the at least one actuation spring is coupled to the actuation member,

the respective second end of the at least one actuation spring is coupled to the guide member, and

the at least one actuation spring is configured to bias the actuation member to the first position.

18. The protective mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a latch member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the latch member pivotally coupled to the guide member at a pivot point between the first and the second end portions of the latch member.

19. The protective mechanism of claim 18, wherein an aperture is defined in the latch member between the first end portion of the latch member and the pivot point, the aperture of the latch member configured to receive a portion of the actuation member.

20. The protective mechanism of claim 18, wherein the latch member includes a latch projection disposed on the first end portion of the latch member, the latch projection configured to protrude from a guide member face when the latch member is in a latched position.

21. The protective mechanism of claim 18, further comprising at least one latch spring, wherein:

each of the at least one latch spring has a respective first end and a respective second end,

the respective first end of the at least one latch spring is coupled to the guide member,

the respective second end of the at least one latch spring is coupled to the latch member at a respective point between the pivot point and the second end portion of the latch member, and

the at least one latch spring is configured to bias the latch member to a latched position.

22. The protective mechanism of claim 18, further comprising at least one arrester projection coupled to the guide member and disposed in spaced relation to the pivot point of the latch member such that the at least one arrester projection arrests movement of the latch member when the latch member pivots to a latched position.

23. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the protective mechanism is configured to protect the connector when operatively gripping a medical device to engage the connector.

24. The protective mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to interface with a monitoring client.

25. A protective mechanism comprising:

a guide member having a guide member face;

a backstop member disposed on the guide member and approximately perpendicular the guide member face, the backstop member configured to have a backstop member face;

a connector disposed on the backstop member face;

an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the actuation member pivotally coupled to the guide member; and

a protective member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the protective member pivotally coupled to one of the guide member and the backstop member, the second end portion of the protective member including a cover portion configured to cover the connector, the protective member adapted to engage with the actuation member, wherein;

pivotal movement of the actuation member in a first direction from a first position to a second position causes the protective member to pivot from a protective position to a non-protective position, thereby uncovering the connector; and

pivotal movement of the actuation member in a second, opposite direction from the second position to the first position causes the protective member to pivot from the non-protective position to the protective position, to thereby cover the connector.

26. The protective mechanism of claim 25, wherein the protective mechanism is configured to protect the connector when operatively gripping a medical device to engage the connector.

27. The protective mechanism of claim 25, wherein the connector is configured to interface with a monitoring client.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a dock configured to receive a medical device; and

a protective mechanism coupled to the dock, the protective mechanism comprising;

a guide member;

a connector;

an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the actuation member pivotally coupled to the guide member; and

a cover member pivotally coupled to the guide member and configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the protective mechanism is configured to protect the connector when operatively gripping a medical device to engage the connector.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the connector is configured to interface with a monitoring client.

31. A system, comprising:

a rack having a dock, the dock configured to receive a medical device when operatively clamped to the rack;

a protective mechanism coupled to the dock, the protective mechanism comprising;

a guide member;

a connector;

an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the actuation member pivotally coupled to the guide member; and

a cover member pivotally coupled to the guide member and configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising a monitoring client configured to engage with the connector.

33. A method of protecting a connector when gripping a medical device to a rack, the method comprising:

guiding the medical device to the connector;

actuating an actuator member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the actuation member pivotally coupled to the guide member; and

pivoting a cover member pivotally coupled to the guide member, the cover member configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the medical device is a monitoring client.