Medical tubing slide clamp device for determining proper tubing size and functional characteristics

• US 6,117,115 A
• Filed: 10/12/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Medical Incorporated (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Harrison, David J., Hill, Roger J., Monti, James H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/169,901
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 604/33, 604/34, 604/246, 604/249, 604/250, 604/256, 604/65, 604/67, 81/9.3, 29/243.56, 251/4, 251/7, 251/10
• US Class Current: 604/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/287 Wedge formed by a slot having varying width, e.g. slide clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line

Abstract

A medical tubing and slide clamp set is disclosed for use with a medical infusion pump designed for operation with a preselected medical tubing set having predetermined size and functional characteristics. The medical tubing and slide clamp includes a preselected medical tubing set having predetermined size and function characteristics. An opaque slide clamp is provided with a grasping end and a longitudinal clamp plate extending from the grasping end. The longitudinal clamp plate defines a clamp slot with a wide open portion sized for receiving the preselected medical tubing without closing the tubing, a narrow open portion sized for closing the tubing and a transition portion interconnecting the narrow and wide portions. A plurality of orifices are formed along the longitudinal clamp plate at predetermined locations arranged according to the size and functional characteristics of the medical tubing set. A receptacle formed in a medical pump includes a plurality of light sources and sensors mounted at predetermined positions for sensing the orifices or the absence of orifices to determine whether the size and functional characteristics of the tubing set will are proper for operation in the medical pump.

Claims

1. A mechanism for a medical pump for determining proper size and functional characteristics of a medical tubing said mechanism comprising:

(a) a medical tubing having predetermined size and functional characteristics;

(b) an opaque slide clamp comprising a grasping end, a longitudinal clamp plate extending from said grasping end, said longitudinal clamp plate defining a clamp slot with a wide open portion sized for receiving said medical tubing without closing said medical tubing, a narrow open portion sized for closing said medical tubing and a transition portion interconnecting said narrow and wide portions of said clamp slot;

(c) a plurality of orifices formed along said longitudinal clamp plate at predetermined locations arranged according to said size and functional characteristics of said medical tubing;

(d) a receptacle held in a medical pump medical pump constructed for receiving said slide clamp, said receptacle including spaced apart inside walls;

(e) first and second light sources mounted on one of said inside walls and aligned sensors on the other end of said inside walls at predetermined positions corresponding to the predetermined locations of said plurality of orifices in said slide clamp when said slide clamp is received into said receptacle for sensing the existence of orifices at said predetermined locations;

(f) a circuit operatively coupled to said pump and said sensors for permitting operation of said pump only when said plurality of orifices are sensed at said predetermined positions.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said plurality of orifices comprise two orifices formed at two predetermined locations selected from at least three predetermined locations on said opaque slide clamp.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said plurality of orifices comprise two orifices formed at two predetermined locations selected from at least four predetermined locations on said opaque slide clamp.