Pinch clamp device

Abstract

Pinch-style clamps can be designed for use in clamping or occluding plastic tubing, such as intravenous tubing. These pinch clamps can include a soft, polymer material applied to various surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent abrasion or irritation to the patient, increase friction between the pinch clamp and the user operating said pinch clamp, increase friction between engaged surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent premature or unintended disengagement of the clamp, or increase friction between the outer surfaces of the tubing and the clamping surfaces of the clamp. Various features or components can be employed to prevent lateral disengagement of the pinch clamp. A pinch clamp may also be configured with rounded outer edges to enhance patient comfort.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A pinch clamp device, comprising:
 a first arm having an inside surface and an outer surface, the inside surface having a first end comprising a lip and a second end comprising a first clamping surface;   a second arm having an inside surface and an outer surface, the outer surface having a first end comprising a terminal end configured to engage with the lip and a second end comprising a second clamping surface on the inside surface positioned opposite the first clamping surface;   a hinge interconnecting the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm; and   a nesting component comprising opposing sidewalls coupled together via an interconnect, both opposing sidewalls extending in the same direction away from the interconnect, the interconnect being sized to fit inside of the hinge and to position the opposing sidewalls outside and adj acent to the first and second arms in order to prevent the lateral disengagement of the first and second arms, wherein the nesting component further includes a raised feature on an interior surface of one or more of the opposing sidewalls, the raised feature contacting one or both of the inside surface of the first and second arms to limit rotation of the nesting component.   
     
     
         22 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein one or both of the first and second clamping surfaces is formed as a recessed surface between raised surfaces, wherein the pinch clamp device further comprises extensions that extend from opposing sides of one of the first or second arm. 
     
     
         23 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 22 , wherein the extensions are coupled together via a rounded interconnect, the rounded interconnect forming an opening through which tubing passes between the extensions. 
     
     
         24 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein one of the first or second arms includes extensions positioned on opposing sides of the arm and the other of the first or second arms includes an inner extension that inserts between the opposing extensions when the pinch clamp device is engaged. 
     
     
         25 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein the first arm includes raised surfaces positioned on each side of the first clamping surface, the second clamping surface inserting between the raised surfaces when the pinch clamp device is engaged. 
     
     
         26 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein outer edges of the first and second arms are rounded, and the terminal end of the second arm forms an interface surface having ends that protrude outwardly beyond the rounded outer edges of the second arm. 
     
     
         27 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein one of the first or second clamping surfaces includes lateral posts and the other of the first or second clamping surfaces includes recessed surfaces that are positioned between the lateral posts when the first and second clamping surfaces are engaged. 
     
     
         28 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 21 , wherein the terminal end of the second arm forms an interface surface that includes outwardly facing recessed surfaces and the first arm includes inwardly facing lateral protrusions between which the recessed surfaces are positioned when the interface surface is secured under a ledge formed by the lip. 
     
     
         29 . A pinch clamp device, comprising:
 a first arm having a first end comprising a lip and a second end comprising a first clamping surface;   a second arm having a first end comprising a terminal end and a second end comprising a second clamping surface positioned opposite the first clamping surface;   a hinge interconnecting the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm; and   a material directly located on the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface, the material having a Shore A durometer hardness of from approximately 15 to approximately 100.   
     
     
         30 . A pinch clamp device, comprising:
 a first arm, comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a lip and the second end comprises a first clamping surface;   a second arm, comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a terminal end and the second end comprises a second clamping surface positioned opposite the first clamping surface;   a hinge interconnecting the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm;   a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface extend between the lip and the terminal end, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface extend in between the first side surface and the second side surface; and   a material extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein the material is located on the first clamping surface, the second clamping surface, a portion of the lip configured to contact the terminal end, or a portion of the terminal end configured to contact the lip, the material having a Shore A durometer hardness of from approximately 15 to approximately 100.   
     
     
         31 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a nesting component comprising opposing sidewalls coupled together via an interconnect, the interconnect being sized to fit inside of the hinge and to position the opposing sidewalls outside and adjacent to the first and second arms.   
     
     
         32 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 31 , wherein the nesting component further includes a raised feature on an interior surface of one or more of the opposing sidewalls, the raised feature contacting one or both of the first and second arms to limit rotation of the nesting component. 
     
     
         33 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 30 , wherein one or both of the first and second clamping surfaces is formed as a recessed surface between raised surfaces. 
     
     
         34 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 extensions that extend from opposing sides of one of the first or second arm.   
     
     
         35 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 34 , wherein the extensions are coupled together via a rounded interconnect, the rounded interconnect forming an opening through which tubing passes between the extensions. 
     
     
         36 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 30 , wherein the first end of the second arm includes a second hinge. 
     
     
         37 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 36 , wherein the second hinge allows the terminal end of the second arm to pivot towards the hinge that interconnects the first and second arm. 
     
     
         38 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 30 , wherein one of the first or second arms includes retaining components and the other of the first or second arms includes pivoting tabs which interlock with the retaining components to limit the extent to which the hinge opens. 
     
     
         39 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 38 , wherein the retaining components are positioned on opposing sides of the first or second arm and the pivoting tabs are inwardly offset with respect to the retaining components. 
     
     
         40 . The pinch clamp device of  claim 30 , wherein one of the first or second arms includes extensions positioned on opposing sides of the arm and the other of the first or second arms includes an inner extension that inserts between the opposing extensions when the pinch clamp device is engaged.