# US 10,863,941 B2 · Device for regulating a volumetric flow

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,863,941 B2
- Document ID: US10863941B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/772,355
- Filed: 2014-02-28
- Published: 2016-01-14
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-04
- Assignees: Medical Measurement Systems B.V.
- Applicants: Medical Measurement Systems B.V.
- Inventors: Michael Gondy Jensen; Kristine Larsen; David Van Gorkom; Jens Witte
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863941B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/205: {Determining bladder or urethral pressure}
- A61B 5/036: {by means introduced into body tracts (A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence)}
- A61M 5/16813: {by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line}
- A61M 5/16881: {Regulating valves}
- A61M 39/28: Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps {(tube strippers A61M1/83)}
- A61B 5/6852: {Catheters}
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A hose segment, and a device for using the hose segment, to regulate a volumetric flow rate, including the hose segment through which fluid can flow, and a hose clamp including a basic housing having an accommodating region for the hose segment and a clamping element that can be moved between at least two regulation positions. The clamping element has an effect on the hose segment in interaction with segments of the accommodating region as pressing points at least in one regulation position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for regulating a volumetric flow of a fluid, the device comprising:
a hose segment having a lumen through which the fluid can flow and having a closable region and a perfusion region;
a hose clamp including a housing with an accommodating region for the hose segment and a clamping element adapted to move rotationally about a center of rotation in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction among a closed regulation position, an open regulation position and a perfused regulation position, and in interaction with first and second sections of the accommodating region as first and second pressing points on the closable region and the perfusion region, respectively, of the hose segment, at least one counter-pressure element of the clamping element acting on the hose segment to achieve the closed regulation position and the perfused regulation position, respectively;
for the perfused regulation position a spacer is arranged in the lumen of the hose segment at least in the perfusion region; and
the device can be set, without movement of the center of rotation along the lumen of the hose segment, to at least the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position when the clamping element is moved rotationally about the center of rotation, wherein (i) in the closed regulation position the lumen of the hose segment is completely closed in the closable region when the clamping element is rotated in the first direction, (ii) in the perfused regulation position the lumen of the hose segment is kept at least partially open by the spacer in the perfused region of the hose segment when the clamping element is rotated in the second direction, and (iii) the open regulation position is achieved by rotating the clamping element between the closed and perfused regulation positions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein in the perfused regulation position the lumen of the hose segment is kept slightly open by the spacer in the perfused region of the hose segment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second pressing points are formed by first and second counter-pressure elements, respectively, of the clamping element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the clamping element is moved about the center of rotation by a motor among the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position and is held by the motor in each of the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position, respectively.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the device, the hose clamp, the hose segment or parts thereof are at least in sections made of a material that is selected from a group that includes duroplastic or thermoplastic synthetic materials.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from a group which includes water, aqueous solutions, solutions for injection, solutions for infusion, nutritional solutions, electrolyte solutions, blood, plasma, gas, air, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the hose segment is made of a flexible material and is squeezable in sections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the lumen of the hose segment has an inner diameter of between 0.2 mm and 10 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of (i) the spacer is an integral component of the hose segment and in the perfusion region reduces the lumen of the hose segment and (ii) the spacer is formed by an elongated element that reduces the lumen of the hose segment and that at least in sections is connected to the hose segment in the perfusion region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1 wherein the reduction in the lumen by the spacer is between 0.01% to 5%, through this the lumen of the hose segment in the perfused regulation position is kept slightly open so that a volumetric flow of between 0.1 ml/mm and 8 ml/mm is provided.

### Claim 11

A device for regulating a volumetric flow of a fluid, the device comprising:
a hose segment having a lumen through which the fluid can flow and having a closable region and a perfusion region;
a hose clamp including a housing with an accommodating region for the hose segment and a clamping element adapted to move rotationally about a center of rotation in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction among a closed regulation position, an open regulation position and a perfused regulation position;
the clamping element defining two counter-pressure elements, wherein (a) one of the counter-pressure elements acts on the closable region of the hose segment to achieve the closed regulation position and (b) another of the counter-pressure elements acts on the perfusion region of the hose segment to achieve the perfused regulation position;
for the perfused regulation position a spacer is arranged in the lumen of the hose segment at least in the perfusion region; and
the device can be set, without movement of the center of rotation along the lumen of the hose segment, to at least the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position when the clamping element is moved rotationally about the center of rotation, wherein (i) in the closed regulation position the lumen of the hose segment is completely closed in the closable region when the clamping element is rotated in the first direction to press one of the counter-pressure elements against the closable region, (ii) in the perfused regulation position the lumen of the hose segment is kept at least partially open by the spacer in the perfused region of the hose segment when the clamping element is rotated in the second direction to press the other of the counter-pressure elements against the perfused region, and (iii) the open regulation position is achieved by rotating the clamping element between the closed and perfused regulation positions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein, when the device is set in the perfused regulation position, the lumen of the hose segment has capillary flow by the spacer in the perfused region of the hose segment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein the clamping element is moved about the center of rotation by a motor among the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position and is held by the motor in each of the closed regulation position, the open regulation position and the perfused regulation position, respectively.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein the hose segment is made of a flexible material and is squeezable in sections.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein the hose segment has a clear inner diameter of between 0.2 mm and 10 mm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein at least one of (i) the spacer is a spacer element that is an integral component of the hose segment and (ii) the spacer is a spacer element that is formed by an elongated element that is connected to the hose segment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein the lumen of the hose segment in the perfused setting is kept slightly open so that a volumetric flow of between 0.1 ml/mm and 8 ml/min is provided.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The device according to claim 16 wherein the spacer element is at least partially made of a material selected from a group that includes plastic, wool, cotton, cellulose, and metal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11 wherein the spacer has a cross-sectional shape that is quadratic, rectangular, oval, circular, or square.