Patent Application
20240149044
The pinch clamp is a well-known type of one-piece plastic clamp which is used to close off intravenous tubing. The pinch clamp generally comprises a smooth, hard plastic material that is resilient and capable of controlled flexion to enable engagement and disengagement of the clamping surfaces.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some implementations described herein may be practiced.
The present disclosure relates generally to a pinch clamp device that is designed for use in clamping or occluding intravenous tubing. In some embodiments, a pinch clamp device may include a first arm, which may include a first end, a second end, a first clamping surface, a first extension, and a set of first ledges proximate the first extension. In some embodiments, the pinch clamp device may include a second arm, which may include a first end, a second end, a second clamping surface, a second extension, and a set of second ledges proximate the second extension and configured to align with the first clamping surface when the pinch clamp device is in a closed position. In some embodiments, the set of first ledges may be configured to align with the second clamping surface when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the pinch clamp device may include a hinge interconnecting the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm.
In some embodiments, the first extension may be U-shaped. In some embodiments, the second extension may be U-shaped. In some embodiments, the first end of the first arm may be a terminal end, which may include a first lip. In some embodiments, the first end of the second arm may be a terminal end, which may include a second lip. In some embodiments, the first lip may be configured to engage with the second lip when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position.
In some embodiments, the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface may be spaced apart when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the set of first ledges may be offset from the set of second ledges when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the first arm may include a set of first walls proximate the set of first ledges. In some embodiments, the second arm may include a set of second walls proximate the set of second ledges. In some embodiments, the first clamping surface may be configured to move outward to contact the set of second walls when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position configured to pinch an extension tube. In some embodiments, the second clamping surface may be configured to move outward to contact the set of first walls when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position configured to pinch the extension tube. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the first arm may include multiple rows of alphanumeric characters. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the second arm may include multiple rows alphanumeric characters.
In some embodiments, when the pinch clamp device is in the closed position, an outer surface of the first arm may slope downwardly to the first lip. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the pinch clamp device may include a protrusion, and pressure on the protrusion is configured to disengage the first lip with the second lip. In some embodiments, the first arm may include an elongated portion and a downwardly extending portion proximate the elongated portion. In some embodiments, the downwardly extending portion may be generally perpendicular to the elongated portion. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the downwardly extending portion may include the protrusion.
In some embodiments, a pinch clamp assembly may include the pinch clamp device and an extension tube extending through the pinch clamp device. In some embodiments, the extension tube may extend through the first extension and the second extension, and the first extension and the second extension are U-shaped. In some embodiments, when the pinch clamp device is in an open position, the extension tube may be trapped within the first extension and the second extension.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes, unless so claimed, may be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Example embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the first extension 20 and/or the second extension 30 may be U-shaped. In some embodiments, the first end 14 of the first arm 12 may be a terminal end, which may include a first lip 36. In some embodiments, the first end 24 of the second arm 23 may be a terminal end, which may include a second lip 38. In some embodiments, the first lip 36 may be configured to engage with the second lip 38 when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the first lip 36 and the second lip 38 may be configured to be engaged and disengaged with a single hand of a clinician.
In some embodiments, the first clamping surface 18 and the second clamping surface 28 may be spaced apart when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position. In these embodiments, the set of first ledges 22a, 22b may be offset from the set of second ledges 32a, 32b when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position. In further detail, the set of first ledges 22a, 22b may not be aligned with the set of second ledges 32a, 32b when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the first arm 12 may include a set of first walls 40a, 40b proximate the set of first ledges 22a, 22b. In some embodiments, the second arm 23 may include a set of second walls 42a, 42b proximate the set of second ledges 32a, 32b. In some embodiments, the first clamping surface 18 may be configured to move outward to contact the set of second walls 42a, 42b when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position configured to pinch an extension tube. In some embodiments, the second clamping surface 28 may be configured to move outward to contact the set of first walls 40a, 40b when the pinch clamp device 10 is in the closed position configured to pinch the extension tube. Thus, in some embodiments, the set of first walls 40a, 40b and/or the set of second walls 42a, 42b may limit the first arm 12 and the second arm 23 spreading apart.
In some embodiments, an outer surface of the first arm 12 may include multiple rows of alphanumeric characters 44. In some embodiments, an outer surface of the second arm 23 may include multiple rows of alphanumeric characters 44. In some embodiments, a width of the first arm 12 and/or a width of the second arm 23 may be large enough to fit the multiple rows of alphanumeric characters 44 such that they are readable to the clinician. In some embodiments, a printable area on top and/or bottom of the pinch clamp device 10 may eliminate a need for a separate identification tag identifying the patient or a characteristic of the pinch clamp device 10.
In some embodiments, a pinch clamp assembly 52 may include the pinch clamp device 10 and an extension tube 54 extending through the pinch clamp device 10. In some embodiments, the extension tube 54 may extend through the first extension 20 and the second extension 30, and the first extension 20 and the second extension 30 are U-shaped. In some embodiments, when the pinch clamp device 10 is in an open position, the extension tube 54 may be trapped within the first extension 20 and the second extension 30, as illustrated, for example, in
In some embodiments, the pinch clamp device 10 may provide patient comfort with a rounded design and/or few or no protruding features. In some embodiments, inner edges and/or outer edges of the pinch clamp device 10 may be smooth to facilitate patient comfort. Referring now to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the protrusion 46 may function as a push button, and pushing on the protrusion 46 may move the pinch clamp device 10 to the open position. In some embodiments, pushing on an area of the pinch clamp device 10 other than the protrusion 46 may facilitate further engagement of the first lip 36 and the second lip 38, securing the pinch clamp device 10 further in the closed position. In some embodiments, the protrusion 46 may not extend past and may be interior to the push tab 56 may reduce a risk of the protrusion 46 irritating the patient. In some embodiments, the pinch clamp device 10 may include an oval shape. In some embodiments, the oval shape and the downwardly extending portion 50 may make the pinch clamp device 10 less likely to be accidentally compressed at an angle resulting in unclamping.
Referring now to
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
