Clamp for a flexible tube, pump provided with means for opening such a clamp, and infusion kit provided with such a clamp

• US 8,328,763 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US12/676,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 251/4, 251/9, 251/10, 251/117, 604/151, 604/153, 604/167.01, 604/250, 604/412
• US Class Current: 604/167.01
• 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. Pump for perfusion comprising:

a flexible tube equipped with a clamp that can be opened and closed, wherein the clamp is located inside the pump

wherein said clamp comprises;

a substantially U-shaped band of plastic material, with a free end of a first branch of the U-shaped band bent toward a free end of a second branch of the U-shaped band, called the back, to form the head of the clamp, so that in the closed position, the free end of the back, called the back end, is supported under the free end of the head, called the head end, wherein a surface of the head end overlaps a surface of the back end, whereas in the open position, the back end is above the head end at a distance,

a pair of openings spaced so as to accommodate a flexible tube going through the clamp and supported by the clamp, and two opposite protrusions to seal off the flexible tube by compressing the flexible tube when the clamp is in the closed position,

means for moving the head end away from the back end in an opening direction parallel to the surfaces where the head end and the back end overlap, by exerting pressure on the head end in the opening direction parallel to the surfaces where the head end and the back end overlap in order to open the clamp when the clamp is in the closed position, and

means for locking the head end on the back end in the closed position so as to prevent the head end from moving away from the back end in the opening direction parallel to the surfaces where the head end and the back end overlap, when pressure is exerted only on the head end, and to permit the head end to move in the opening direction parallel to the surfaces where the head end and the back end overlap only after the back end has been moved down from the closed position,

a door that can be opened and closed in order to place or take out a flexible tube equipped with a clamp, and

means for opening or closing the clamp comprising a pivoting lever equipped with at least one head cam to move the head end away from the back end of the clamp,

wherein the lever is equipped with means for unlocking the locking means of the clamp,

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, and

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.

2. Pump 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.

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

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

7. Pump according to claim 1, which is equipped with means for closing the clamp when the door is opened.

8. Pump according to claim 1, 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 the back cam holds the clamp in this position, then the head cam moves the head end far enough away from the back end to leave room for the back end to move up from the closed position to the open position, 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.

9. Pump according to claim 1, wherein the lever is placed in the door of the pump.

10. Pump according to claim 1, wherein a support is provided on the pump housing for snapping in a clamp insert provided in one of the openings of a clamp to receive an end of a flexible tube.

11. Combination of a pump for perfusion according to claim 1 and a flexible tube set for perfusion passing through the clamp.

16. Pump according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are staggered along a direction from one of the orifices to the other in the closed position of the clamp, so that the back can be pushed toward the bottom past the closed position of the clamp.

17. Pump according to claim 2, wherein an actuation element is provided on the end of the head.

18. Pump according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a tab located on one of the head end and the back end and a recess located on the other of the head end and 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.

12. Pump for perfusion comprising:

a door that can be opened and closed in order to place or take out a flexible tube equipped with a clamp,

means for opening or closing a clamp comprising a pivoting lever equipped with at least one head cam to move a head end away from a back end of a clamp located inside the pump,

wherein the lever is equipped with means for unlocking the locking means of the clamp,

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, and

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 12, which is equipped with means for closing the clamp when the door is opened.

14. Pump according to claim 12, 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 the back cam holds the clamp in this position, then the head cam moves the head end far enough away from the back end to leave room for the back to go through back end to move up from the closed position to the open position, 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.

15. Pump according to claim 12, wherein the lever is placed in the door of the pump.