Pinch Clamp Devices, Methods, and Systems
AssigneeNxStage Medical, Inc.
InventorsScott W. NEWELL, Dennis M. TREU, Kenneth E. BUCKLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling flow through a flexible tube includes providing a pinch clamp mechanism including a pinching element and a pinching surface configured to apply a force on the flexible tube when the flexible tube is positioned between the pinching element and the pinching surface. The method also includes displacing the pinching element relative to the pinching surface with a mechanical drive unit and biasing the pinching element toward the pinching surface with a spring.
Claims20
1-3. (canceled)
A method of controlling flow through a flexible tube, the method comprising:
- providing a pinch clamp system including a pinching element and a pinching surface configured to apply a force on the flexible tube when the flexible tube is positioned between the pinching element and the pinching surface, the pinch clamp system being powered by electrical power;
- providing an energy storage device configured to operate the pinch clamp system in case of a loss of the electrical power;
- storing power in the energy storage device;
- and
- displacing the pinching element relative to the pinching surface with the pinch clamp system at least partially by using the power stored in the energy storage device.
A pinch clamp system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a microcontroller coupled to the power supply;
- an energy storage device coupled to the power supply;
- a motor driver coupled to the energy storage device;
- and
- a linearly actuated pinch clamp coupled to the motor driver and the microcontroller, the linearly actuated pinch clamp including at least
- a motor,
- a displaceable pinching element coupled to the motor driver and including a pinching surface, the pinching element being displaceable between a first position and a second position where the pinching surface cooperates with a fixed surface to pinch closed a flexible tube;
- and
- a sensor to measure a position of the pinching element;
- a switch, coupled to the power supply, the microcontroller and the motor driver, to pass commands from the microcontroller to the motor driver when a voltage of the power supply remains above a predetermined threshold, and to provide a command to the motor driver to move the pinching element to the second position when a voltage of the power supply falls below the predetermined threshold,
- a voltage boost converter, coupled to the power supply and the energy storage device, to boost the voltage provided to the energy storage device;
- a power fail voltage detector, coupled to the power supply and the switch, to detect when the power supply voltage falls below the predetermined threshold;
- and
- an oscillator, coupled to the power supply and the switch, to generate a signal to move the pinching element to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.