Abstract:
Slide and lock clamps for attaching to supports are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a clamp including a base plate comprising a first cradle. A rod is secured to the base plate. A sliding carriage is movably connected to the rod. The sliding carriage includes a lever, a cam, and a movable lock constructed and arranged for releasably locking the sliding carriage in place on the base plate. A second cradle is movably connected to the rod and positioned next to the sliding carriage for securing a support between the second cradle and the first cradle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is in the general field of clamps for securing objects to supporting poles, and in particular, for supporting medical devices connected to a patient on a supporting structure or pole. 
         [0002]    One of the more basic tools used in a medical environment is an intravenous (“IV”) stand. The typical IV stand includes an elongated member, or pole, that may be oriented either vertically or horizontally, and may additionally have any one of a variety of cross-sectional geometric shapes, including round, hexagonal, or square. The pole is placed upon and supported by a pedestal. Typically, IV devices such as supply bags or bottles of an IV liquid—normally blood, saline solution, or medication—are attached to the IV pole. These liquids are then delivered via a thin tube to a patient who is in a bed adjacent the IV stand. 
         [0003]    As medical technologies and treatment techniques have advanced, the number of different IV liquids that are delivered to a patient has increased. As such, there are often additional devices that must be attached to the IV stand to manage, control, measure, and monitor the delivery of these various liquids. One such device is an infusion pump. In some situations, there may be more than one infusion pump, and there may be a controller or microcontroller that controls the infusion pumps. These devices are designed to attach to an IV stand, such as an IV pole, and allow for the attachment of numerous other devices in a collective and orderly fashion. 
         [0004]    To minimize equipment costs and increase flexibility of use, these devices are typically required to be adaptable for use with various types of IV stands and poles. To accomplish this, such devices have typically been mounted on an IV pole by way of a clamping assembly. However, there are several disadvantages inherent in the currently available clamping assemblies. These clamping assemblies are sometimes capable of attachment to the IV stand in only one position. Thus, they may not be used interchangeably between a horizontally disposed IV pole and a vertically disposed IV pole. 
         [0005]    Some clamping assemblies are limited as to the size or shape, or both, of the IV pole to which they can attach. While a clamp on a clamping assembly may be capable of attaching to a round IV pole, it may not be capable of attaching to a hexagonal or square shaped pole. Some clamps are limited to specific widths or diameters of poles to which they can properly attach. Each of these limitations restricts the adaptability and limits the usefulness of the clamping assembly. 
         [0006]    An additional drawback is the effort required for positioning the clamp on a pole or repositioning the clamp on the same pole or on a different pole. Some clamps require two hands for positioning or repositioning the clamp, one hand for unlocking the clamp and another hand for moving or repositioning the clamp. Other clamps require an extended amount of time and effort to manually attach the medical device to the pole. Quick timing may be important in administering a prescribed medication, and time spent to attach or disattach an infusion pump from a pole could be crucial. In any case, it is desirable to make the movement and attachment of medical equipment for use easier and less time consuming. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present disclosure provides a quick-adjusting, quick-locking clamp that can be used to attach a medical device to a suitable support. For example, the clamp can be attached to IV poles, especially poles having a diameter from about 9.5 mm (0.375 in.) to about 38 mm (1.50 in.), although different embodiments may be used on poles of other diameters. While most IV poles are cylindrical, with a circular cross-section, the clamp may also be used on supports or poles with other peripheral shapes such as rectangular, square, or elliptical. The clamp is constructed and arranged to be adjusted and locked around the IV pole with a single hand. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an IV pole clamp including a base plate having a first cradle, a rod secured to the base plate, and a sliding carriage movably connected to the rod. The sliding carriage further includes a lever, a cam, and a movable lock constructed and arranged for releasably locking the sliding carriage in place on the base plate. The clamp can further include a second cradle movably connected to the rod and positioned next to the slide carriage. The movable lock is mounted within the sliding carriage for movement by the cam and configured for clamping against the rod. In an embodiment, the rod can be a threaded rod secured in a groove defined by the base plate. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the sliding carriage is secured to the rod by a bore defined by the sliding carriage that secures the rod. The cam is mounted on a pivot pin mounted in the sliding carriage, and the lever is attached to the cam. The clamp further includes a locking pin attached to the sliding carriage to prevent movement of the lever in a locked position. A portion of a surface of at least one of the stationary cradle and the sliding cradle includes a friction material. 
         [0010]    A biasing mechanism can be inserted between an end cap of the base plate and the sliding carriage. The biasing mechanism is constructed and arranged to assist the user with moving the sliding carriage to a closed or locked position. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a slide and lock clamp including a base plate having an end plate and a stationary cradle. The stationary cradle is configured to secure to one side of a support, such as a pole that is part of an intravenous stand. A rod is secured to the base plate. A sliding cradle is movably connected to the rod. The sliding cradle is configured to secure to an opposite side of the support. The clamp further includes a sliding carriage movably connected to the rod. A pivot pin is mounted within the sliding carriage. A cam is positioned in the sliding carriage and mounted on the pivot pin. A lever is attached to the cam, and a movable half-nut is mounted within the sliding carriage. The movable half-nut is configured to be moved by the cam and configured to be clamped against the rod. The end cap secures the rod to the base plate on at least one end of the base plate. 
         [0012]    In another alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a slide-lock clamp including a base plate and a stationary cradle. The stationary cradle includes a first surface at an angle to the base plate and a second surface at about a right angle to the first surface. The stationary cradle is configured to secure one side of a cylindrical pole. A threaded rod is secured to the base plate. A sliding cradle is movably connected to the threaded rod. The sliding cradle includes a first portion at an angle to the base plate and a second portion at a steeper angle to the base plate. A sliding carriage is movably connected to the threaded rod. A pivot pin is secured to the sliding carriage. A cam is positioned within the sliding carriage and mounted on the pivot pin. A lever is connected to the cam, and a threaded half-nut is mounted within the sliding carriage. The threaded half-nut is configured to be moved by the cam and is also configured to be clamped against the threaded rod. The second portion includes an angled surface in a general shape of a V in one implementation. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of securing a medical device to a support such as, for example, a pole that is part of an intravenous stand. The method includes providing a clamp having (i) a base plate with a first cradle and a rod attached to the base plate, (ii) a sliding carriage movably connected to the rod, the sliding carriage having a lever, a cam, and a movable lock constructed and arranged to releasably lock the sliding carriage in place on the base plate, and (iii) a second cradle movably connected to the rod. The medical device is attached to the base plate of the clamp. The clamp is attached to the support so that the support is positioned between the first cradle and the second cradle. The sliding carriage is moved towards the support so that the first cradle and the second cradle are in contact with the support. Finally, the lever is adjusted so that the sliding carriage is locked in place on the base plate with the support firmly locked between the first cradle and the second cradle. The sliding carriage can be locked into a stationary position using a locking pin attached to the sliding carriage to prevent movement of the lever in a locked position. 
         [0014]    It is accordingly an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improved clamp for attaching medical devices to IV poles. 
         [0015]    It is another advantage of the present disclosure to provide a quick adjusting clamp for quickly attaching a medical device to a pole. 
         [0016]    It is yet another advantage of the present disclosure to provide a quick adjusting clamp for allowing a user to single-handedly attach a medical device to a pole. 
         [0017]    Still further, it is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a quick release clamp for quickly detaching a medical device from a pole. 
         [0018]    Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide and lock clamp in use on an IV pole in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clamp in a locked position surrounding the IV pole in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an elevation cross-section view of the clamp taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2  in a released position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an elevation cross-section view of the clamp taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2  illustrating the clamp in the released position engaging an IV pole. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an elevation cross-section view of the clamp taken along line III-III in  FIG. 2  illustrating the clamp in a locked position secured to the IV pole. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a slide and lock clamp  20  in an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. An intravenous system (“IV”)  10  is shown for administering a medication to a patient P. The system  10  includes one or more containers  12  of an intravenous solution connected by tubing  14  to one or more infusion pumps  16  attached to and under the control of an infusion pump controller  18 . Additional lengths of tubing  14  are provided to deliver the medication to the patient P. The back side of infusion pump controller  18  is attached to slide and lock clamp  20 , which is then mounted on IV pole  22 . The height of infusion pump  16  and infusion pump controller  18  can be adjustable to the desired position for the convenience of the patient and the caregiver that sets up pump  16  for delivering the medication to the patient P. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows slide and lock clamp  20  in the locked position. The view of  FIG. 2  depicts the side of clamp  20  that faces IV pole  22  and faces away from infusion pump  16 . Clamp  20  includes a base plate  24  having a stationary cradle  26 . Stationary cradle  26  is constructed and arranged to secure a portion of the circumference of IV pole  22 . IV pole  22  is secured on the opposite circumferential portion by a movable or sliding cradle  30 . 
         [0026]    Threaded rod  50  is mounted to base plate  24  in a channel or groove  52 . Rod  50  is secured on one end of base plate  24  to an end cap  28  attached to base plate  24 . Rod  50  is secured on the other end of base plate  24  at the bottom portion of stationary cradle  26  (as seen in hidden line in  FIG. 2 .) For example, rod  50  can be secured within a bore  34 , e.g., threaded, ( FIGS. 3 to 5 ) defined by end plate  28  and a bore  36 , e.g., smooth, defined by an end portion  32  of stationary cradle  26 . Rod  50  could alternatively extend past one or both of end plate  28  and end portion  32 , have threaded ends, and be held in place with one or more nuts tightened against plate  28  and/or portion  32 . Rod  50  can have alternative cross-sectioned shapes, such as square, rectangular, trapezoidal, or other suitable polygonal shape. In an alternative embodiment, rod  50  does not have a threaded exterior surface. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , sliding cradle  30  is movably or slideably attached to a sliding carriage  40 . Sliding cradle  30  is mounted to an extended platform  42  that is part of sliding carriage  40 . Cradle  30  slides with platform  42  of carriage  40 , so that they collectively translate back and forth along rod  50 . Sliding cradle  30  and sliding carriage  40  define bores (not shown) or upside down U-shaped channels (not shown) through their bottom portions through which rod  50  fits to retain sliding cradle  30  and sliding carriage  40  within groove  52  and prevent sliding cradle  30  and sliding carriage  40  from being removed from groove  52  and away from base plate  24 . 
         [0028]    As further illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , a pivot pin  60  is mounted within sliding carriage  40 . A cam  62  is positioned in sliding carriage  40  and mounted on pivot pin  60 . A lever  64  is attached to cam  62 . A movable lock  66  is mounted within sliding carriage  40 . Movable lock  66  is configured for movement by cam  62  and is positioned to clamp against rod  50 , so as to lock cradle  30  and carriage  40  in place against IV pole  22 . 
         [0029]    More specifically, sliding carriage  40  acts as a housing for pivot pin  60  on which cam  62  is mounted. Pivot pin  60  is attached to sides  70  and  72  ( FIG. 2 ) of sliding carriage  40 . Cam  62  is connected to lever  64  so that when lever  64  is rotated by a user, cam  62  rotates as well. Cam  62  may be molded into lever  64  or may otherwise be integrally assembled with lever  64 . Cam  62  pivots about pivot pin  60  as a user rotates lever  64  upward. This action also pushes down movable lock  66  onto rod  50  to lock sliding carriage  40  in place. Lever  64  can include a textured grip for a user to more easily grasp and rotate lever  64 . Also, the bottom of lock  66  can be soft or rubberized to frictionally engage rod  50 . 
         [0030]    Lock  66  may be a partially threaded half-nut or other suitable compression member that prevents movement of sliding carriage  40  when lock  66  is brought into contact with rod  50 . When lock  66  is a half-nut, its threads are exposed and can engage with the threads of rod  50  in a locked position. Moving lever  64  clockwise rotates cam  62  clockwise, thereby pushing lock  66  downward towards rod  50  as described in more detail below. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a biasing mechanism  80  can be added to lock  66  to assist in pressing lock  66  firmly against cam  62 . 
         [0031]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, stationary cradle  26  and sliding cradle  30  are shaped to maximize the locking ability of clamp  20 . As illustrated, stationary cradle  26  includes a first surface  100  extending at about a 45° angle from base plate  24 . Stationary cradle  26  also includes a second surface  102  that meets first surface  100  at rounded corner  104 . Surface  102  extends at about a 135° angle from base plate  24 . Corner  104  is radiused, and in one embodiment, the radius is from about 0.6 cm (0.25 in.) to about 1.3 cm (0.5 in.). First surface  100  can be at an angle of about 30° to about 60° to base plate  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , first surface  100  is at approximately a right angle to second surface  102  but can alternatively be from about 30° to 60° from surface  130  of base plate  24 . First surface  100  can therefore extend at other angles with respect to second surface  102 . 
         [0032]    Sliding cradle  30  operates with stationary cradle  26  to securely capture IV pole  22  for mounting the infusion pump  16  and controller  18 , as noted above in connection with  FIG. 1 . Sliding cradle  30  and/or stationary cradle  26  can be modified to accommodate differently shaped IV poles. In the illustrated embodiment, the working or clamping side of sliding cradle  30  includes a first angled surface  110 , angled in this embodiment, at about a 135° angle from base plate  24 . The working side also includes a second angled surface  120  including a first surface portion  122  and a second surface portion  124 . Portions  122  and  124  meet at an angle of about 160° relative to each other, that is, almost at a straight line. Second angled surface  120  overall forms almost a right angle to base plate  24 . 
         [0033]    First and second angled surfaces  110  and  120  meet at radiused corner  126 . It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, first and second angled surfaces  110  and  120  can meet at an angled corner. First angled surface  110  and corner  126  are positioned as shown so that they can easily capture an IV pole of various diameters, e.g., from about 1 cm (0.375 in.) to about 3.8 cm (1.5 in.). In one embodiment, corner  126  is positioned about 1.9 cm (0.75 in.) above the inner working surface  130  of base plate  24 . This allows clamp  20  to capture an IV pole about two to three times the diameter between corner  126  and surface  130 . 
         [0034]    For the working side of sliding cradle  30 , corner  126  can be positioned at about one quarter to about one-half the height above surface  130  of the largest diameter pole that is expected to be used with clamp  20 . In one embodiment, if the largest diameter pole expected is about 3.8 cm (about 1.50 in.), corner  126  is about 0.75 cm to about 1.5 cm (about 0.29 in. to about 0.59 in.) above surface  130  of base plate  24 . It should be appreciated that other radii, distances, and dimensions may be used for stationary cradle  26  and sliding cradle  30  in alternative embodiments. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate clamp  20  in alternative positions during operation of clamp  20 .  FIG. 3  shows clamp  20  in an open or released position, in which sliding cradle  30  and sliding carriage  40  are moved away from IV pole  22 . During use, the user pushes carriage  40  to move sliding cradle  30  and sliding carriage  40  towards IV pole  22 , as indicated by arrow A of  FIG. 3 . As sliding cradle  30  contacts IV pole  22 ,  FIG. 4 , first surface portion  122  and second surface portion  124  of sliding cradle  30  secure IV pole  22  on one side. First and second surfaces  100  and  102  of stationary cradle  26  secure IV pole  22  on its opposite side. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates clamp  20  in a closed or locked position on IV pole  22 . Once clamp  20  is correctly positioned with respect to IV pole  22 , the user then depresses or lifts lever  64  in an upward, clockwise direction, according to Arrow B shown in  FIG. 4 , which also rotates cam  62  on pivot pin  60 . The movement of cam  62  causes lock  66  to move downward, towards rod  50 , thereby compressing lock  66  against rod  50  as seen in  FIG. 5 . This prevents lock  66  from inadvertently moving along rod  50 . At the same time, rotating cam  62  causes sliding cradle  30  to move away from sliding carriage  40  and further press against IV pole  22 . This allows IV pole  22  to be securely and tightly locked between sliding cradle  30  and stationary cradle  26 . 
         [0037]    When the user wishes to remove clamp  20  from IV pole  22 , lever  64  can be pressed towards base plate  24  according to arrow C in  FIG. 5 . Sliding carriage  40  and sliding cradle  30  can then be manually moved away from IV pole  22  to loosen the grip on IV pole  22  and allow clamp  22  to be removed from IV pole  22 . 
         [0038]    In an alternative embodiment, clamp  20  also includes a locking pin (not shown) that prevents movement of lever  64  once lever  64  is in the closed or locked position. The locking pin can be part of sliding carriage  40  or part of base plate  24  to prevent movement of lever  64  in a locked position. The locking pin can be constructed and arranged to require user interaction to release lever  64  to reduce the clamping force applied to IV pole  22  by clamp  20 . This provides a safety mechanism to prevent clamp  20  from inadvertently becoming loose during its use. 
         [0039]    In another alternative embodiment, a biasing mechanism (not shown) is inserted between end cap  28  and sliding carriage  40  and is constructed and arranged to assist the user with moving sliding carriage  40  towards IV pole  22 . For example, the biasing mechanism can become compressed as sliding carriage  40  is moves closer to end cap  28 . After the user moves sliding carriage  40  to the open position and inserts a support or rod between stationary cradle  26  and sliding cradle  30 , the biasing mechanism will automatically move sliding carriage  40  back to the closed position without any effort by the user. The user can than lift lever  64  to tighten and completely secure the support or rod between stationary cradle  26  and sliding cradle  30 . 
         [0040]    As used herein, the term “biasing mechanism” includes mechanical springs and other compressible biasing elements, such as, compressible rubber or other elastomeric dome elements and solid compressible elastomeric bodies. 
         [0041]    The side  44  of base plate  24  opposite of sliding carriage  40  can be removably or permanently attached to infusion pump controller  18  using any suitable attachment method. For example, base plate  24  can be attached to infusion pump controller  18  (or other devices) by one or more screws or fasteners. Alternatively, base plate  24  can be attached to infusion pump controller  18  (or other devices) using adhesives or welding techniques. 
         [0042]    Clamp  20  and the various components of clamp  20  can be made using any suitable materials such as metals, polymers and plastics. Thus, clamp  20  can be designed to have a light weight, high strength, and durability. 
         [0043]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.