Circular roller clamp assembly
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorsJason Andrew Wine, Tomas Frausto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circular roller clamp assembly includes a semi-circular housing configured to receive a portion of an IV tube and a roller coupled to an arm, the roller configured to be movably received by a guide groove disposed in the semi-circular housing. The roller clamp assembly is configured to regulate a flow rate of fluid flowing through the IV tube based on engagement of the roller with the IV tube via circumferential movement of the roller along the guide groove. IV sets with circular roller clamp assemblies and methods of operating circular roller clamp assemblies are also provided.
Claims20
A roller clamp assembly comprising:
- a semi-circular housing configured to receive a portion of an intravenous (IV) tube;
- an arm disposed externally to the semi-circular housing;
- and
- a roller coupled to the arm, the roller configured to be movably received by a guide groove disposed in the semi-circular housing,
- wherein the roller clamp assembly is configured to regulate a flow rate of fluid flowing through the IV tube based on engagement of the roller with the IV tube via circumferential movement of the roller along the guide groove.
An intravenous (IV) set comprising:
- an IV tube configured to be coupled to a fluid container;
- an infusion component coupled to the IV tube;
- and
- a roller clamp assembly coupled to the IV tube, the roller clamp assembly comprising:
- a semi-circular housing configured to receive the IV tube;
- an arm disposed externally to the semi-circular housing;
- and
- a roller coupled to the arm and configured to be movably received by a guide groove disposed in the semi-circular housing,
- wherein the roller clamp assembly is configured to regulate a flow rate of fluid flowing through the IV tube based on engagement of the roller with the IV tube via circumferential movement of the roller along the guide groove.
A method of operating a roller clamp assembly, the method comprising:
- pulling a roller radially outward from a guide groove disposed in a perimeter surface of a semi-circular housing of the roller clamp assembly;
- placing an intravenous (IV) tube between roller and the guide groove;
- releasing the roller;
- contracting, by a biasing force, the roller radially inward towards the IV tube and the guide groove;
- pressing, by the roller, the IV tube against a varying sized tube channel disposed within the guide groove;
- moving the roller towards a smaller sized portion of the tube channel to increase impingement of the IV tube by the roller and decrease a rate of fluid flow through the IV tube;
- and
- moving the roller towards a larger sized portion of the tube channel to decrease impingement of the IV tube by the roller and increase the rate of fluid flow through the IV tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.