Non-reopenable flow control clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833606-B2
Application number	US-201313797025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to clamps for controlling the flow of liquid through a fluid circuit. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to flow control clamps that can be substantially irreversibly secured in a closed position, thereby preventing reopening of the flow path of the tube and providing a sterile closure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow control device comprising: a flexible body comprising a central portion and first and second relatively movable legs extending from said central portion, said central portion including a window for receiving flexible tubing therethrough, said first and second relatively movable legs being movable from a spaced apart position to a closed position; one of said first and second relatively movable legs comprising at least a pair of substantially parallel terminal arms extending therefrom, said arms defining a gap therebetween; the other of said first and second relatively movable legs comprising a single terminal arm extending therefrom; wherein one of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms includes a tooth having an engagement surface for engaging a surface on a tooth on said single terminal arm, wherein said engagement surface and a surface of said one of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms from which said tooth extends forms an angle α of less than 90°; and wherein said single terminal arm of said other of said first and second legs includes a tooth having an engagement surface that faces said engagement surface of said tooth on said one of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms in said closed position, and wherein said engagement surface of said tooth on said single terminal arm and a surface of said single terminal arm from which said tooth of said single terminal arm extends forms an angle α of less than 90°; and wherein one of said first and second legs carries both (a) a tube contacting member for compressing the flexible tube when said first and second legs are in a closed position and (b) a ramp adjacent to said tube contacting member on said one of said first and second legs, said ramp comprising an ascending surface and a descending surface.

2. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein relative movement of said first and second legs from the spaced apart position to the closed position introduces said single terminal arm into said gap.

3. The flow control device of claim 1 further comprising a tube contacting member carried by said other of said first and second legs for compressing said flexible tubing between said contacting members when said first and second legs are in the closed position.

4. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein said ramp has a surface wherein at least a portion of said surface has a roughened or otherwise textured finish.

5. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein said first and second legs extending from said central portion have a width and said tube contacting member spanning said entire width of said first and second legs.

6. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein said flow control device is not readily releasable when secured in the closed position.

7. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein said flow control device is devoid of any surface or member to allow for grasping and re-opening of said device.

8. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein one of said pair of substantially parallel arms is shorter in length than the other of said pair of substantially parallel arms.

9. The flow control device of claim 8 wherein the shorter of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms includes said tooth.

10. The flow control device of claim 8 wherein said other of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms includes a tooth on a surface of said other of said pair of substantially parallel arms facing said gap.

11. The flow control device of claim 10 wherein said tooth on said other of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms has an engagement surface that forms an angle α with the surface of a longer of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms from which said tooth extends that is less than 90°.

12. The flow control device of claim 1 wherein said single terminal arm comprises a window for receiving the flexible tubing therethrough.

13. The flow control device of claim 12 wherein said windows are completely enclosed by said body.

14. The flow control device of claim 12 wherein said window in said single terminal arm defines a tooth engaging surface.

15. The flow control device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of lateral arms extending from one of said first and second legs.

16. The flow control device of claim 15 said lateral arms are adjacent to said ramp.

17. A fluid processing set comprising: a container adapted for receiving biological fluid from a donor; a donor access device; a tubing segment defining a flow path that is in flow communication with said container and said access device; a flow control device associated with said tubing segment, said flow control device comprising: a flexible body comprising a central portion and first and second relatively movable legs extending from said central portion, said central portion including a window for receiving flexible tubing therethrough, said first and second legs being movable from a spaced apart position to a closed position; one of said first and second legs comprising at least a pair of substantially parallel terminal arms extending therefrom, said substantially parallel terminal arms defining a gap; the other of said first and second legs comprising a single terminal arm extending therefrom; wherein one of said pair of substantially parallel terminal arms includes a tooth having an engagement surface for engaging a surface on a tooth on said single terminal arm, wherein said engagement surface and a surface of said one of said pair of generally parallel arms from which said tooth extends forms an angle α of less than 90°; wherein said single terminal arm includes a tooth having an engagement surface that faces said engagement surface of said tooth on one of said pair of generally parallel terminal arms in said closed position, and wherein said engagement surface of said tooth on said single terminal arm and a surface from which said tooth on said single terminal arm extends form an angle α of less than 90°; at least one tube contacting member carried by one of said first and second legs for clamping said flexible tubing when said first and second legs are in a closed position; wherein the other of said first and second legs carries both (a) a tube contacting member for compressing the flexible tube when said first and second legs are in the closed position and (b) a ramp adjacent to said tube contacting member on the other of said of said first and second legs, said ramp comprising an ascending surface and a descending surface.

18. The fluid processing set of claim 17 further comprising:
a second container for receiving biological fluid from said donor; and
a second tubing segment defining a flow path between said second container and said access device.

19. A flow control device comprising: a flexible body comprising a central portion and first and second relatively movable legs extending from said central portion, said central portion including a window for receiving flexible tubing therethrough; one of said first and second legs comprising at least a pair of substantially parallel inner and outer arms extending from said one of said first and second legs and each terminating in a terminal tip end, said substantially parallel inner and outer arms defining a gap therebetween and wherein said substantially parallel inner arm is substantially shorter than said substantially parallel outer arm; the other of said first and second legs comprising an arm extending therefrom; wherein said substantially parallel inner arm of said pair of substantially

Assignees

• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Calderon Carlos
• West Richard
• Blickhan Bryan
• Lynn Daniel
• Kaganovsky Arthur

Classifications

• A61M39/28 Primary

  Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps {(tube strippers A61M1/83)} · CPC title