Umbilical cord clamping device

• US 5,797,922 A
• Filed: 03/20/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Balagan Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Balagan Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Katz, Michael, Hessel, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/821,111
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 606/119, 606/120, 606/142, 606/157, 606/174, 606/205-211
• US Class Current: 606/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

A clamping device for securing a pair of clamps to the umbilical cord of a newly born infant includes pressure plates to remove blood from the section of the cord between the clamps. Thus, there is a greatly reduced risk of infection from blood squirting out upon the cutting of the cord during delivery of the infant.

Claims

1. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of resilient clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device squeezing blood away from between said resilient clamps so that said cord can be severed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said clamping device comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical handle portions having proximal ends for grasping by said user; and

a clamp holder assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical holding members each comprising a pair of receptacles and a pressure plate positioned between said receptacles, one of said holding members attached to a distal end of one of said handle portions and the other of said holding members attached to a distal end of the other of said handle portions, said plate positioned exterior to said receptacles and said resilient clamps such that said plates make first contact with said cord during operation of said device, each of said resilient clamps comprising a pair of arms being received into said receptacles of said holding members;

said resilient clamps being retained within said holder assembly prior to closure of said resilient clamps by compression of said arms by said holding members, said pressure plates being juxtaposed to compress said cord to squeeze blood away from between said resilient clamps thereby substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps so that severance of said cord can be performed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said resilient clamps being readily released from said members after said closure.

2. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of resilient clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device squeezing blood away from between said resilient clamps so that said cord can be severed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said clamping device comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical handle portions comprising proximal ends for grasping by said user; and

a clamp holder assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical holding members each comprising a pair of receptacles and a pressure plate positioned between said receptacles, one of said holding members attached to a distal end of one of said handle portions and the other of said holding members attached to a distal end of the other of said handle portions, each of said resilient clamps comprising a pair of arms being received into said receptacles of each of said members;

said resilient clamps being retained within said holder assembly prior to closure of said resilient clamps by compression of said arms by said holding members, said pressure plates being juxtaposed to compress said cord to squeeze blood away from between said resilient clamps thereby substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps so that severance of said cord can be performed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said resilient clamps being readily released from said members after said closure.

3. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of resilient clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device squeezing blood away from between said resilient clamps so that said cord can be severed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said clamping device comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical handle portions comprising proximal ends for grasping by said user; and

a clamp holder assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical holding members each comprising a pair of receptacles, a pressure plate positioned between said receptacles and a closure indicator, one of said holding members attached to a distal end of one of said handle portions and the other of said holding members attached to a distal end of the other of said handle portions, each of said resilient clamps comprising a pair of arms being received into said receptacles of each of said members;

said resilient clamps being retained within said holder assembly prior to closure of said resilient clamps by compression of said arms by said holding members, said pressure plates being juxtaposed to compress said cord to squeeze blood away from between said resilient clamps thereby substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps so that severance of said cord can be performed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said indicators providing tactile, aural and visual feedback of sufficient closure of said pair of resilient clamps to prevent flow of blood therebetween, said resilient clamps being readily released from said members after said closure.

4. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of resilient clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device squeezing blood away from between said resilient clamps so that said cord can be severed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said clamping device comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a pair of handle portions comprising proximal ends for grasping by said user; and

a clamp holder assembly comprising a pair of holding members each comprising a pair of receptacles and a pressure plate positioned between said receptacles, one of said holding members attached to a distal end of one of said handle portions and the other of said holding members attached to a distal end of the other of said handle portions, each of said resilient clamps comprising a pair of arms being received into said receptacles of each of said members;

said pressure plates being juxtaposed to compress said cord to squeeze blood away from between said resilient clamps thereby substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps so that severance of said cord can be performed with release of a minimal amount of blood.

5. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said plates are positioned exterior to said receptacles and said resilient clamps such that said plates make first contact with said cord during operation of said device.

6. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said plates are attached at a first end to said holding members and are initially unconstrained at a second end thereby being cantilevered prior to operation of said device.

7. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said pair of arms of each of said resilient clamps are initially formed at about a 90 degree angle to each other and said holding members of said device are limited to opening to approximately 50 degrees therebetween thereby compressing and retaining said arms of said resilient clamps therein.

8. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said members of said holder assembly further comprise a closure indicator providing tactile, aural and visual feedback of sufficient closure of said resilient clamps onto said umbilical cord to prevent flow of said blood therebetween.

9. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said members of said holder assembly include guides for positioning said cord within said device during said closure of said resilient clamps.

10. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said members of said holder assembly are snapped onto said distal ends of said handle portions and a rivet is used to attach said handle portions together at a pivot point for rotation of said handle assembly thereabout.

11. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein said handle portions of said handle assembly and said members of said holder assembly are integrally formed whereby said device comprises a pair of one-piece handle holder sections attached together at a pivot point.

12. The clamping device of claim 4, wherein a pivot point is located in a section intermediate said proximal and distal ends of said handle portions, each of said handle portions comprising a hole formed on said proximal end and a protuberance located between said proximal end and said pivot point, said hole on one of said handle portions receiving a finger of a hand of said user, a thumb of said hand pressing against said protuberance on the other of said handle portions for removal of said members from said resilient clamps after said closure.

13. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device comprising:

a pair of resilient clamps each comprising a pair of arms; and

a handle holder assembly, comprising;

a pair of substantially identical handle portions comprising proximal ends for grasping by said user, said handle portions attached together at a pivot point; and

a pair of substantially identical holders each comprising a pair of receptacles for receiving one arm of each of said pair of clamps and a pressure plate positioned between said pair of receptacles, each of said holders attached to a distal end of each of said handle portions;

wherein said resilient clamps are retained within said holders prior to closure of said resilient clamps by compression of said arms and said plates are juxtaposed to compress said cord to squeeze blood away from between said resilient clamps thereby substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps, said severance performed with release of a minimal amount of blood, said resilient clamps readily released from said holders after said closure.

14. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said plates are positioned exterior to said receptacles and said resilient clamps such that said plates make first contact with said cord during operation of said device.

15. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said plates are attached at a first end to said holders and are initially unconstrained at a second end thereby being cantilevered prior to operation of said device.

16. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said holders form a closure indicator providing an aural and visual feedback of sufficient closure of said resilient clamps onto said cord to prevent flow of said blood therebetween.

17. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein each of said pair of arms are originally formed orthogonal to each other and said holders of said device are limited to opening to approximately 50 degrees, thereby compressing and retaining said arms of said resilient clamps therein.

18. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said holders are snapped onto said distal ends of said handle portions and a rivet is used to attach said handle portions together at said pivot point for rotation of said assembly thereabout.

19. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said handle portions and said holders are integrally formed whereby said device comprises a pair of one-piece sections attached together at said pivot point and receiving said resilient clamps.

20. The clamping device of claim 13, wherein said holders include guides for positioning said cord within said device during said closure of said resilient clamps.

21. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device substantially reducing the amount of blood in said cord between said pair of clamps so that the amount of blood squirting out upon said severance is minimized, said clamping device comprising:

a pair of resilient clamps; and

a handle holder assembly, comprising;

means for said user to operate said clamping device;

means for supporting said pair of clamps on said assembly; and

means for providing pressure on said umbilical cord between said pair of clamps thereby squeezing said cord between said pair of clamps and substantially eliminating said blood from said cord between said resilient clamps;

said severance of said umbilical cord performed with release of a minimal amount of blood.

22. A clamping device for single-handed attachment by a user of a pair of clamps onto an umbilical cord of a newly born infant prior to severance of said cord, said clamping device substantially reducing the amount of blood in said cord between said pair of clamps so that the amount of blood squirting out upon said severance is minimized, said clamping device comprising:

a pair of resilient clamps; and

a handle holder assembly, comprising;

handle portions for said user to operate said clamping device;

holders for supporting said pair of clamps on said assembly; and

pressure plates for compressing said umbilical cord between said pair of clamps thereby squeezing and substantially eliminating said blood from said umbilical cord between said pair of clamps;

said severance of said umbilical cord performed with release of a minimal amount of blood.

23. A method of clamping and cutting an umbilical cord of a newly born infant with release of a minimal amount of blood from said cord upon said cutting, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a pair of resilient clamps into receptacles of a clamping device, said clamping device comprising holders having juxtaposed pressure plates positioned between said receptacles;

b) positioning said clamping device about said umbilical cord such that said pair of clamps define a cutting section therebetween;

c) closing said clamping device so that said pressure plates compress said cutting section to remove most of said blood from between said pair of clamps, said pair of clamps closing sufficiently to be secured to said cord thereby preventing slippage of said resilient clamps off said umbilical cord;

d) removing said clamping device from said umbilical cord, said pair of clamps remaining on said cord; and

e) severing said umbilical cord at said cutting section between said pair of clamps with minimal blood issuing therefrom.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein Step c) comprises closing said clamping device so that said pressure plates make contact with and squeeze said cord prior to closure of said resilient clamps.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein Step c) comprises closing said clamping device by applying pressure thereon until indicators on said holders are felt, heard and seen to indicate sufficient closure.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein Step b) comprises placing said holders around said cord using guides on said holders to ensure said cord remains sufficiently within said clamping device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein each of said pair of clamps comprises a pair of arms substantially at right angles to one another, said holders of said clamping device limited to opening to about 50 degrees, Step a) comprising inserting said arms of said pair of clamps into said holders such that said resilient clamps are retained in said holders by said arms pressing against said holders.

28. A method of clamping and cutting an umbilical cord of a newly born infant with release of a minimal amount of blood from said cord upon said cutting, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a pair of resilient clamps into receptacles of a clamping device, said clamping device comprising holders having juxtaposed pressure plates positioned between said receptacles;

b) securing said pair of clamps onto said umbilical cord by closing said clamping device such that said pressure plates squeeze said umbilical cord between said pair of clamps thereby substantially eliminating blood therefrom; and

c) severing said umbilical cord between said pair of clamps with minimal blood issuing therefrom.