[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

61/695,186, filed August 30, 2012, and titled "Tubing Clamp," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0002] Briefly summarized, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a clamp for selectively compressing a portion of tubing, such as an extension leg of a PICC or other catheter. The clamp is able to be opened or closed with a thumb and finger of a single hand of a user and is slidably attached to the tubing so as to enable its placement as desired along the tube. Its attachment to the tube also prevents loss of the clamp when it is not being used to clamp the tubing. The clamp includes rounded surfaces that reduce trauma and improve patient comfort over other designs, and further includes sufficient surface area for enabling printing to be included thereon.

[0003] In one embodiment, therefore, the tubing clamp comprises a body including first and second body portions hingedly connected to one another in a clamshell configuration, a latch for releasably latching the first and second body portions together, and at least two tube compression members. The tube compression members cooperate to compress and occlude a portion of tubing passing through the tubing clamp when the first and second body portions are latched to one another.

[0004] These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of embodiments of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] A more particular description of the present disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. Example embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tubing clamp included on an extension leg of a catheter, according to one embodiment;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 1 in an open configuration;

[0008] FIGS. 3A-3C are various views of the clamp of FIG. 1 in open and closed configurations;

[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partially transparent side view of the clamp of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

[00010] FIGS. 5 A and 5B are top and bottom views of the clamp of FIG. 1 ;

[00011] FIGS. 6A and 6B show details of tube compression members for the clamp of

FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

[00012] FIGS. 7 A and 7B show details of a hinge configuration for a tubing clamp according to one embodiment;

[00013] FIGS. 8 A and 8B show details of a hinge configuration for a tubing clamp according to one embodiment; and

[00014] FIGS. 9 A and 9B show details of a tubing clamp body according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

[00015] Reference will now be made to figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are neither limiting nor necessarily drawn to scale.

[00016] For clarity it is to be understood that the word "proximal" refers to a direction relatively closer to a clinician using the device to be described herein, while the word "distal" refers to a direction relatively further from the clinician. For example, the end of a catheter placed within the body of a patient is considered a distal end of the catheter, while the catheter end remaining outside the body is a proximal end of the catheter. Also, the words "including," "has," and "having," as used herein, including the claims, shall have the same meaning as the word "comprising."

[00017] Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a clamp for selectively compressing a portion of tubing, such as an extension leg of a PICC or other catheter. The clamp is able to be opened or closed with two fingers and is slidably attached to the tubing so as to enable its placement as desired along the tube. Its attachment to the tube also prevents loss of the clamp when it is not being used to clamp the tubing. The clamp includes rounded surfaces that reduce trauma and improve patient comfort over other designs, and further includes sufficient surface area for enabling printing to be included thereon.

[00018] Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which shows a tubing clamp, generally designated at 10, slidably attached to the tubing of an extension leg 12 and in an unlatched configuration. In the unlatched configuration shown here, the clamp 10 is able to be easily slid along the length of the extension leg 12 so as to enable a user to position it as desired. Note that the extension leg 12 includes a connector 14 and is representative of a wide variety of tubes and tubing, including various catheters and catheter-related tubing, with which a clamp configured in accordance with the present disclosure can be utilized.

[00019] FIG. 2 shows the clamp 10 in an open configuration, such as during clamp manufacture, in accordance with one embodiment. In detail, FIG. 2 shows various internal components of the clamp 10, including a body 20 defined by a first body portion 20A and a second body portion 20B. The two clamp body portions 20 A, 20B are attached to one another via a hinge or other suitable component to enable mutual movement therebetween. In the present embodiment, the clamp body portions 20A, 20B are integrally formed and the hinge is a living hinge 22 integrally formed with the body portions. So configured, the clamp body 20 can be selectively closed and opened, the body having a clamshell-like design.

[00020] The first body portion 20 A defines a lip 24 that protrudes beyond an adjacent portion of the second body portion 20B when the two portions are brought together in the manner shown in FIG. 3C. The lip 24 assists in enabling selective opening of the clamp 10, as will be seen. Gripping surfaces 26 or other suitable surface features are included proximate the lip 24 to assist with finger gripping of the lip and clamp body 20. [00021] A latch 30 is included on the clamp 10 to enable selective latching of the first and second body portions 20A, 20B together to close the clamp. As seen in FIG. 2, the latch 30 of the present embodiment includes a male latch portion 32 disposed on the first body portion 20 A and a female latch portion 34 disposed on the second body portion 20B. The two latch portions 32 and 34 are cooperatively positioned and configured to releasably latch together via locking insertion of the male latch portion into the female latch portion when the two clamp body portions 20A and 20B are pressed together by the user, as seen in FIGS. 3C and 4. FIG. 4 particularly shows the manner of engagement of the male latch portion 32 with the female latch portion 34 when the clamp 10 is closed. Such engagement by the latch 30 enables the clamp 10 to occlude the tubing on which the clamp is included, as will be seen. It is appreciated that a variety of latching systems and configurations can be employed in addition to that shown and described herein.

[00022] FIGS. 4 and 5 A further show that the first body portion 20 A includes a compliant segment 36 that enables the lip 24 and portion of the first body portion on which the male latch portion 32 is disposed to flex with respect to the remainder portion of the first body portion. As will be seen, this assists in engagement and disengagement of the latch 30. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 A, the compliant segment 36 includes a region of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to adjacent portions of the first body portion 20A. Note that the first and second body portions 20A and 20B in the present embodiment include a thermoplastic or other suitable material such that the compliant portion 36 is able to resiliently bend as described herein. Note that the design, shape, cross-sectional area, and configuration of the compliant segment can vary from what is explicitly shown and described herein.

[00023] In accordance with the present disclosure, the body of the clamp can include one or more suitable materials, including but not limited to acetyl, polyester ("PES"), polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"), polyethylene ("PE"), high density polyethylene ("HDPE"), polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"), low-density polyethylene ("LDPE"), polypropylene ("PP"), polystyrene ("PS"), high impact polystyrene ("HIPS"), polyamides ("PA"), nylons, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS"), polycarbonate ("PC"), polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("PC/ABS"), polyurethane ("PU"), polyetheretherketone ("PEEK"), and polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"). Also, note that any of these materials can include additives, such as glass in one embodiment, for improved mechanical properties. In one embodiment, the body of the clamp includes polypropylene.

[00024] FIGS. 2, 3 A, and 4 further illustrate dual tube retention components 38 that are sized and configured to each receive therethrough a portion of the tubing of the extension leg 12 (FIG. 1) or other tubing on which the clamp 10 is disposed. The tube retention components 38 are each included on one of the first and second body portions 20 A, 20B such that the clamp 10 is slidably secured to the tubing in the manner shown in FIG. 1 when the clamp is unlatched. This prevents the clamp 10 from opening too widely when unlatched while still enabling the clamp to slide along the tubing. This configuration also prevents unintended separation of the clamp from the extension leg 12. Note that the tube retention components 38 are in linear arrangement with one another when the clamp 10 is latched so as to enable the tubing to pass through the clamp without substantial deviation. FIGS. 5 A and 5B show that the retention components 38 are formed in the present embodiment from recesses 38 A in each of the first and second body portions 20 A, 20B of the clamp body 20. The particular size, shape, number, and placement of the tube retention components can vary.

[00025] A set of tube compression members 40 are further included with the clamp 10.

In the present embodiment, the tube compression members 40 include a substantially planar first surface 40A included on the first body portion 20A and a substantially planar second surface 40B included on the second body portion 20B. The first and second surfaces 40A, 40B in the illustrated embodiment are disposed adjacent the respective tube retention components 38 and are configured to pinch the tubing between them when the first and second body portions 20A, 20B are latched together in the manner shown in FIGS. 3C and 4. Indeed, FIG. 4 shows the approximate spacing between the first and second tube compression surfaces 40A, 40B, sufficient to compress and occlude the tubing, thus preventing fluid passage therethrough when the clamp 10 is latched. The tube compression members 40 are shown here as flat surfaces that are aligned to converge toward one another when the clamp is latched, though in other embodiments it is appreciated that the members can include other configurations. Note that the spacing between the tube compression surfaces is dependent upon the thickness of the tubing wall. In one embodiment, the spacing between the tube compression surfaces is no greater than twice the tubing wall thickness so as to achieve full occlusion through the tubing. In one embodiment, it is appreciated that the spacing between the tube compression surfaces is slightly less than twice the tubing wall thickness such that both the tubing and the clamp undergo a relatively small amount of deformation when the clamp is latched.

[00026] FIGS. 5 A and 5B show that in the present embodiment the clamp 10 is of sufficient size as to provide an area for indicia 46 to be included, such as via printing, on the outer surface of the clamp body 20. It is recognized that a variety of alphanumeric, symbolic, iconic or other indicia can be included on the body 20 of the clamp 10 to convey useful information or characteristics regarding the catheter/medical device to which the clamp is attached to the user. Here, for instance, "No CT" is included on the clamp body 20 as the indicia 46, indicating to an observer that the extension leg 12 to which the clamp 10 is attached is not indicated for power injection of fluids therethrough.

[00027] As described, FIG. 1 shows the clamp 10 disposed on a portion of the tubing of the extension leg 12 in an unlatched configuration such that the clamp can slide along the length of tubing, the tubing extending through the tube retention components 38 (FIG. 2). To operate the clamp 10, compression is supplied by two or more digits of the user, such as the thumb and forefinger, in the direction indicated by the "to close" arrows in FIG. 3C to cause the male and female latch portions 32, 34 to engage and latch the first and second body portions 20A, 20B together in the closed configuration shown in FIG. 3C and 4. In this configuration the tubing of the extension leg 12 is compressed by the tube compression members, i.e., the first and second tube compression surfaces 40A and 40B, a sufficient amount to desirably prevent fluid passage through the tubing. When clamping of the tubing is no longer desired, pressure by two or more digits, such as the thumb and forefinger, is applied to the clamp 10 in the direction indicated by the "to open" arrows in FIG. 3C, which causes the lip 24 and adjacent portion of the first body portion 20 A to push inward and upward, when viewed from the perspective shown in FIG. 3. Again, this movement of the lip 24 and adjacent portion is enabled via the compliant segment 36 (FIGS. 4, 5A). This movement causes disengagement of the male latch portion 32 from the female latch portion 34 and enables the second body portion 40B to hingedly rotate away from the first body portion 40A. This rotation is assisted by the upward movement of the lip 24 and adjacent portions of the first body portion 20A, which can contact the second body portion 20B and urge the two body portions 20A, 20B apart. Separation of the two clamp body portions 20A, 20B also separates the tube compression surfaces 40A, 40B from one another, which ceases compression and occlusion of the tubing of the extension leg 12, thus enabling fluid to flow therethrough. Passage of the tubing through the retention components 38 desirably prevents excessive opening of the clamp body 20 after unlatching occurs.

[00028] As noted above, the tube compression members can vary from what is shown and described in connection with FIGS. 2-4. FIGS. 6A and 6B show one example of an optional set of tube compression members 60, including a concavely-shaped first compression surface 40A and a correspondingly convexly- shaped second compression surface 60B configured to compress between them the tubing 12 when the clamp 10 is latched together in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 A. Thus, these and other tube compression member designs are contemplated.

[00029] FIGS. 7 A and 7B show various details regarding an optional connective scheme for hingedly connecting the first body portion 20 A to the second body portion 20B, wherein instead of a living hinge as disclosed in the embodiment further above (FIGS. 2-5B), a hook 82A is included on the second body portion 20B and is configured to rotatably engage with a rod 82B defined on the first body portion 20A, thus enabling hinged movement between the two body portions. FIG. 7B shows an unlatched configuration of the clamp, similar to its configuration when a portion of tubing extends therethrough before latching.

[00030] FIGS. 8 A and 8B show various details regarding another optional connective scheme for hingedly connecting the first body portion 20 A to the second body portion 20B. In particular, a hinge assembly 92 is disclosed, including hinge knuckles 92A defined by both the first and second body portions 20A, 20B and a pin 92B that passes through the hinge knuckles to enable hinged movement of the body portions thereabout. Thus, the first and second body portions 20A, 20B are able to be selectively moved between unlatched and latched configurations. Note that the pin disclosed here can include of any of the materials mentioned above from which the clamp body can be manufactured, as well as medical grade metals, such as stainless steel.

[00031] Note that the clamp body 20 can be manufactured in any one of various ways, including injection molding, machining, etc.

[00032] Embodiments of the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, not restrictive. The scope of the embodiments is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is: