Clamp and sealer for use on flexible conduits in biopharmaceutical applications
OwnerCharles Spaininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp for clamping and sealing a flexible or deformable conduit extending between a supply and a receiving or holding container. The clamp includes upper and lower sections that can be moved from an open to a closed position. In a closed position the clamp engages the flexible tube or conduit and seals the same, thereby preventing fluid from passing past the seal. The clamp includes two half sections, and can be cut and separated such that each half section clamps and seals a portion of the flexible or deformable conduit or tube. In use, the clamp is typically used to clamp and seal a flexible tube, such as a silicon tube extending between a supply and a receiving container of the type employed in handling biopharmaceutical fluids.
Claims22
A method of clamping and cutting a deformable tube, comprising:
- a. extending the tube between first and second sections of a clamp;
- b. clamping the tube by closing the first and second sections on the tube;
- c. separating each section into first and second portions so as to divide the clamp and the first and second sections into two parts with each part including a portion of the first and second sections;
- and
- d. cutting the tube between the two parts so as to leave at least one portion of the tube clamped with at least one part of the first and second sections.
A clamp for clamping a deformable tube comprising:
- a. a first section;
- b. a second section;
- c. the first and second sections being movable with respect to each other between an open position and a clamped position wherein in the open position the tube can be positioned to be clamped by the first and second sections, and in the clamped position the tube lies between the first and second positions;
- d. the first section being separable about a transverse line into first and second parts;
- and
- e. the second section being separable about a transverse line into first and second parts.
A clamp for clamping a deformable tube, comprising:
- a. a first section;
- b. a second section;
- c. a hinge interconnecting the first and second sections together such that the first and second sections can be moved from an open position to a closed position;
- d. the first section including two spaced apart and separable portions;
- e. a first connector interconnecting the two spaced apart portions of the first section;
- f. the second section including spaced apart and separable portions;
- g. a second connector interconnecting the two spaced apart portions of the second section;
- h. a plurality of locking studs extending from at least two portions of the sections;
- i. a plurality of locking stud receptors formed in at least two portions of the sections such that when the sections assume the closed position the locking studs project into and lock within the locking stud receptors;
- and
- j. a series of ribs formed in at least one section for engaging and clamping down on the deformable tube when the sections assume the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.