Clamp Device and Methods for Making and Using
AssigneeNxStage Medical, Inc.
InventorsJames M. BRUGGER, William J. SCHNELL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Releasable tubing pinch clamps of a generally U-shaped configuration are described. The embodiments include ones that prevent cross-clamping of the tube by various interlocking features on riser portions of the clamp. Methods and molds for making the pinch clamps are also described. For example, a pinch clamp can have a strip that curves so that its ends can be brought together by manually squeezing the strip at its end, which oppose each other as a result of the strip curve. The strip ends have locking edges or surfaces that cause the strip ends to interferingly engage with each other and lock together. The strip also has opposing pinch projections that can pinch a tube.
Claims21
A pinch clamp, comprising:
- a flexible strip forming a generally U-shaped structure in which ends of riser portions of the U-shape are configured with locking edges or surfaces so as to releasably lock with each other when the riser portions are manually squeezed together;
- the flexible strip having a bowl portion and a chin portion having respective bowl and chin openings configured to receive a tube running between them;
- the chin portion extending from one of the riser portions toward the other of the riser portions;
- the flexible strip having pinching projecting portions on the riser portions that converge when the riser portions are manually squeezed together, thereby permitting a tube running between the chin and bowl openings to be pinched between the pinching projections;
- the bowl portion being formed, at least in part, by of a pair of bowl members, defining the bowl opening between them, the bowl members being offset along the direction of a tube axis line joining the chin and bowl openings so that no overhangs exist between the bowl members so that the bowl portion can be formed and released from a two part mold portion without the use of additional actions or mold elements.
A pinch clamp, comprising:
- a flexible generally U-shaped structure in which the riser portions of the U-shape are shaped so as to engage with each other when the structure's open end is closed by manually pressing the riser portions together;
- the structure having pinching projections on opposite riser portions that converge when the riser portions are squeezed, thereby permitting a tube running therebetween to be pinched;
- the structure having no overhangs, thereby permitting the structure to be molded by mold parts that separate from the structure along a single axis.
A method of making a pinch clamp, the pinch clamp having a flexible generally U-shaped structure in which the riser portions of the U-shape are shaped so as to engage with each other when the structure's open end is closed by manually pressing the riser portions so as to urge them together, the structure having inwardly projecting portions on opposite riser portions that converge when the riser portions are urged together, thereby permitting a tube running therebetween to be pinched, at least one of the riser portions having a chin portion that extends toward the other of the risers, the structure further comprising a bowl portion, and the chin portion having openings configured to receive a tube, the method comprising:
- forming the riser portions of the structure using mold parts with facing cavities and projecting at least one pin through at least one of the mold parts, wherein the pin has recesses configured to form sides of the openings, the recesses each having an access opening in a direction that is perpendicular to directions in which the cavities open;
- separating the mold parts along a first line and removing a molded structure from the pin along a second line that is substantially perpendicular to the first.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.