Patent ID: 6234448
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A pinch clamp device for use with a resilient collapsible tube having an external diameter within a predetermined range of diameters comprising:a U-shaped body comprising a generally longitudinal upper arm and a generally longitudinal lower arm, said arms comprising opposed longitudinal first ends and opposed longitudinal second ends, said second longitudinal ends being joined to a resilient base biased to distance the said first ends of the arms apart by substantially a predetermined first distance;aligned clamping abutments disposed on at least a portion of facing surfaces of said upper and lower arms, said clamping abutments adapted for clamping therebetween a resilient collapsible tube having an external diameter within said predetermined range of diameters, wherein at least part of said aligned clamping abutments project laterally at least with respect to said base by at least a predetermined fourth distance sufficient to enable a resilient tube having an external diameter within said predetermined range of diameters to be clamped between said clamping abutments laterally with respect to said base, said predetermined first distance between said first ends being such as to provide a second distance between said clamping abutments at least equal to the largest diameter of said predetermined range of diameters;at least one first flexible catch arm extending generally upwardly from the first end of said lower arm and comprising at least one catch member, said at least one catch member generally facing said first end of said upper arm, said first catch arm being resiliently connected to said lower arm and biased to maintain at least an upper portion of said first catch arm in at least close proximity to said first end of said upper arm at least when said first ends are at said predetermined first distance apart;latch means on said first end of said upper arm adapted for selective engagement with said catch member when said first ends are at a predetermined third distance from each other, whereupon said second distance between said clamping abutments is correspondingly reduced thereby enabling a tube of a diameter within said predetermined range of diameters held between said clamping abutments to be at least partially collapsed.