Flow control device
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorAlbert Frank Bujan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow control device for accurately regulating the flow of fluid through flexible tubing. A pivotal platen is employed in conjunction with a roller which upon rotation along an intersecting axis with a length of tubing will effect a squeezing or compressive action on the tubing but with the compressive force being applied over a wide area of the tubing so as to not effect a distortion of the tubing after the compressive force is discontinued. The flow control unit can be utilized as a clamp in that it can completely disrupt the flow of fluid through the tubing yet it is highy adapted to being used as a flow control device in conjunction with a parenteral administration set.
Claims16
A tubing clamp for regulating flow of fluid through a length of flexible tubing comprising:
- a clamp body defining a surface for supporting a length of flexible tubing having a longitudinal axis, opposing walls extending from said surface and presenting a passage for said tubing, a platen pivotally mounted between said walls for contacting said tubing wherein the pivot axis is movable transversely to said tubing, guide surfaces arranged in said walls, a rotatable member positioned to be guided and rotated along said guide surfaces, said platen constructed and arranged to be movably positioned between said rotatable member and said tubing, said platen presenting a contact surface for said tubing substantially along and over the path of travel of said rotatable member, and cooperating with said rotatable member to exert an incremental compressive force on said tubing and by means of said platen to distribute the compressive force of said rotatable member over a wide area of said tubing including a substantial distance along its longitudinal axis.
A combined clamp and flow control member for regulating the flow of fluid through a length of flexible tubing comprising a generally U-shaped body section defining generally parallel wall members and an interconnecting base portion, said wall members defining a first pair of parallel grooves disposed to intersect, if extended, the plane of said base portion and a second pair of parallel grooves disposed, if extended, to substantially traverse the plane of said base portion, a platen having lateral projections extending in said second pair of parallel grooves, a roller member having pins extending in said first pair of parallel grooves, said first and second pairs of parallel grooves arranged to position said platen on said tubing and said roller member on said platen, said platen presenting a contact surface for said tubing substantially along the path of travel of said rotatable member, and cooperating with said rotatable member to distribute the compressive force of said roller member over a wide area of said tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.