Patent ID: 7303175
Filing Date: 2007-12-04
Classification: A61M,F16K

Abstract:
1. A clamp apparatus for selectively preventing fluid flow through a resilient tube, comprising: a base having a tube aperture at which the resilient tube may be located, the base having a longitudinal center line; a slide clamp slidably mountable on the base for linear movement between an occluding position and an open position, the slide clamp having a longitudinal center line; a clamp aperture formed in the slide clamp for receiving the tube therethrough; a constricted region formed in the clamp aperture, the constricted region occluding the tube to prevent fluid flow through the tube when the slide clamp is in the occluding position; an open region formed in the clamp aperture, the open region allowing fluid flow through the tube when the slide clamp is in the open position; a flexible cantilevered locking arm mounted on the base, the locking arm being biased toward a locking position to prevent movement of the slide clamp from the occluding position to the open position, the locking arm being deflectable to allow subsequent movement of the slide clamp from the occluding position to the open position; a locking device formed in the slide clamp for engagement with the locking arm when the slide clamp is in the occluding position to prevent the slide clamp from moving from the occluding position, the locking device adapted to receive the locking arm such that the locking arm is unstressed while engaged with the detent; a pair of rail channels on the base configured such that the slide clamp is supported by and fits through the rail channels in a sliding fashion when the slide clamp is slidably engaged with the base; a groove formed in one of the slide clamp and the base, the groove extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the respective slide clamp or base in which it is formed; and a rib formed on one of the base and the slide clamp extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the base or slide clamp on which it is formed, the rib sized and shaped to slide within the groove to restrict lateral movement of the slide clamp and base relative to each other.