Umbilical cord cutting and clamping device
First Claim
1. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
- a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm;
b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm;
c) a latch means oriented perpendicular to said first lower arm and said second lower arm for laterally disengageably coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation, said latch means including interengaging elements on said first and second clamps, at least one of said interengaging elements being resilient, said latch means automatically disengaging said first clamp from said second clamp when said cutting and clamping device is moved substantially towards a closed position; and
d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device includes two clamps abutted in a side-by-side relation and a blade connected to an arm of one of the clamps and positioned between the two clamps. Both clamps have an upper arm and a lower arm, and a hinge coupling the proximal ends of the upper and lower arms. The clamps are held in relative position by frictional engagement and by a latch means which is automatically disengaged when the clamps are moved into a closed position. Both the upper and lower arms include clamping surfaces for clamping the umbilical cord. The proximal end of one of the clamping surfaces is provide with a retention tab which retains the umbilical cord between the clamping surfaces; i.e., the tab prevents the cord from migrating proximally off the clamping surfaces and into the hinge area. The distal portions of the lower arms of the clamps include substantially vertical portions having ratchet surfaces having a plurality of proximally directed teeth which are engaged by a ratchet engagement means at the distal ends of the upper arms. The blade includes a cutting edge which is preferably angled distally downward relative to the upper arms. As the clamps are closed around a section of umbilical cord and clamp the cord, the blade extends between the clamping surfaces and cuts the cord, and the latch means is disengaged. The two clamps are separated from their friction fit while clamping the severed ends of the cord.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
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a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm; b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm; c) a latch means oriented perpendicular to said first lower arm and said second lower arm for laterally disengageably coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation, said latch means including interengaging elements on said first and second clamps, at least one of said interengaging elements being resilient, said latch means automatically disengaging said first clamp from said second clamp when said cutting and clamping device is moved substantially towards a closed position; and d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
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a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm, said first lower arm having a first portion and a distal portion angled relative to said first portion said distal portion being provided with a ratchet having a plurality of substantially proximally directed teeth and said first upper arm having a distally directed ratchet engagement means for engaging said plurality of teeth, said plurality of proximally directed teeth including at least one upper tooth and at least one lower tooth vertically displaced below and proximally displaced relative to said at least one upper tooth; b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm; c) means for coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation; and d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp, wherein, in a locked position, said ratchet engagement means engages at least a first of said plurality of proximally directed teeth. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
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a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm movable relative toward said first upper arm upon closure of said cutting and clamping device; b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm movable relative toward said second upper upon closure of said cutting and clamping device; c) a latch means for laterally disengageably coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation such that said first clamp and said second clamp are fixed in three dimensions relative to each other when coupled by said latch means, said latch means including interengaging elements on said first and second clamps, at least one of said interengaging elements being resilient; and d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
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a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm; b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm; c) a latch means for laterally disengageably coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation such that said first clamp is fixed in three dimensions relative to said second clamp when said cutting and clamping deice is in an open position, said latch means including a barbed latch on one of said first and second clamps and a catch which receives said barbed latch on the other of said first and second clamps, said latch means for further automatically disengaging said barbed latch from said catch when said cutting and clamping device is moved substantially towards a closed position; and d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp.
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29. An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device, comprising:
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a) a first clamp having a first upper arm and a first lower arm movable relative toward said first upper arm upon closure of said cutting and clamping device; b) a second clamp having a second upper arm and a second lower arm movable relative toward said second upper upon closure of said cutting and clamping device; c) a latch means for laterally disengageably coupling said first clamp to said second clamp in a side-by-side relation such that said first clamp and said second clamp are fixed in three dimensions relative to each other when coupled by said latch means, said latch means including a barbed latch on one of said first and second clamps and a catch which receives said barbed latch on the other of said first and second clamps, said latch means automatically disengaging said latch from said catch when said cutting and clamping device is moved substantially towards a closed position; and d) a blade coupled to one of said first clamp and said second clamp.
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Specification