JP7736299B2 - Clamps and infusion sets - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a clamp and an infusion set that is attached to a tube.

Conventionally, clamps have been used to control infusions using the gravity flow method. These clamps adjust the pressure on the tube by manually moving a roller-shaped part, thereby narrowing the tube flow path and thereby adjusting the flow rate.
However, the range of movement of the roller-shaped parts is short, and even an experienced person finds it difficult to make minute movements, making it difficult to adjust the flow rate with high precision.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-191958

In response to this, we previously proposed in Patent Document 1 an electric clamp that can be configured with an electrically operated part for opening and closing the tube, yet is of a size and weight that can be handled in the same way as a manual clamp.
This electric clamp uses a pair of tube clamps to clamp the tube in a bent, "U" shape, and then uses a motor to bend that part at an even sharper angle, thereby narrowing the flow path, which generally results in high accuracy in flow rate control.

However, there is still a high demand for manual, disposable tools in the field.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a new and useful clamp that utilizes a mechanism in which the tube is bent into a "L" shape and the angle of the "L" is made acute to narrow the tube flow path, while also being manual, allowing for fine adjustment of the flow rate even though it is done manually.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an infusion set in which the clamp is attached to a tube.

To achieve the above objective, the invention of claim 1 provides a tube setting structure comprising a leaf spring-like main portion that is bent so as to form a pair of opposing portions, with a bending center at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction; an escape window formed in the intermediate portion spanning the bending center; and a setting portion for setting a tube along the inner bent surface of the main portion across the escape window, such that when the tube is bent into a "L" shape by bending the main portion, the folding center escapes and protrudes outward through the escape window; bending means for sandwiching and bending one opposing portion between a pressing portion connected to the other opposing portion; adjustment means for adjusting the gap between the one opposing portion and the pressing portion; and fixing means for releasably fixing the gap between the one opposing portion and the pressing portion at a minimum, wherein the bending means, adjustment means, and fixing means are manually operated.

The invention of claim 2 is a clamp as described in claim 1, characterized in that it includes a pair of side arms rotatably connected to both sides of one of the opposing parts in the width direction, a nut part supported by the pair of side arms to form a pressing part, and a threaded part that threadably engages with the nut part, and the other opposing part is sandwiched between the nut part and one of the opposing parts, and the tip surface of the threaded part presses against the other opposing part, thereby realizing the bending means and adjustment means.

The invention of claim 3 is a clamp as described in claim 2, characterized in that the end of the other opposing part has guide walls for guiding the screw shaft's position on both longitudinal sides and on the relief window side, and the guide walls on the relief window side regulate the position against the spring repulsion force of the main part.

The invention of claim 4 is a clamp as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that multiple support points for a pair of side arms are provided on both sides of one of the opposing parts in the width direction, allowing the width of the tube folding range angle to be adjusted by optional selection.

The invention of claim 5 is a clamp as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that an indicator corresponding to the flow rate is displayed on the side arm, and the flow rate can be visually estimated based on the positional relationship between the other opposing part and the indicator.

The invention of claim 6 is a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fixing means is composed of a locking structure formed on each of both longitudinal ends of the main portion.

The invention of claim 7 is a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamp is made of a resin molded product.

The invention of claim 8 is an infusion set in which the clamp described in any one of claims 1 to 7 is attached to a tube.

The clamp of the present invention allows for fine adjustment of the flow rate by hand. Furthermore, like existing clamps, it allows for the flow rate to be adjusted without putting any strain on the tube, and also allows for complete water stoppage.
The clamp of the present invention can be manufactured as a resin molded product, and can be attached to a tube to provide a disposable infusion set.

1A and 1B are perspective views of a clamp (screw portion omitted) according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from two directions. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the main part of the clamp of FIG. 1 as viewed from two directions. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of side arms and a nut portion of the clamp of FIG. 1 as viewed from two directions. 2 is a six-sided view of the completed clamp of FIG. 1 with a screw portion added, and a side view of the main portion. 5A and 5B are two side views of the clamp shown in FIG. 4 with the main portion bent. 5 is a side view and a front view of the clamp of FIG. 4 with the main part bent. FIG. 5A and 5B are a side view and a plan view showing a state in which a tube is set in the clamp of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a side view of the clamp of FIG. 7 with the main portion bent to stop water. FIG. 8 is a side view of the clamp of FIG. 7 with the main portion bent for flow rate control. FIG. 10 is a side view of the side arm of FIG. 9 with a scale displayed thereon. 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 5 when the attachment position of the side arm relative to the main part is changed for the clamp of FIG. 4.

A clamp 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The clamp 1 is attached to a flexible tube T in the same manner as existing clamps, and is adapted to open and close the tube T.
The clamp 1 is a molded resin product, and as shown in Figures 1 to 6, the clamp 1 has a leaf spring-like main portion 3. The middle portion 5 of this main portion 3 is a thin rectangular plate. The four corners are rounded to form an R-curved surface. The direction along the long side edges of the middle portion 5 is treated as the length direction, and the direction along the short side edges is treated as the width direction. An oval through hole is formed in the center of the middle portion 5 as an escape window 7. This escape hole 7 extends long along the length of the middle portion 5.

Opposing portions 9, 15 are connected to both longitudinal ends of the intermediate portion 5. These opposing portions 9, 15 have opposing surface portions 9a, 15a that are flush with the intermediate portion 5 and extend outward in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion 5, and the main portion 3 is connected in the longitudinal direction from opposing surface portion 9a to intermediate portion 5 to opposing surface portion 15a. However, the widthwise dimensions of the opposing surface portions 9a, 15a are shortened, and both widthwise edges are set back evenly inward relative to both widthwise edges of the intermediate portion 5, following the centerline shared with the intermediate portion 5.

On the opposing portion 9 side, a pair of set walls 9b, 9b rise from both sides of the opposing surface portion 9a in the width direction on the same side, and locking ridges 9c protrude from the opposing inner surfaces of the set walls 9b, 9b. These locking ridges 9c extend from the base end to the upper end of the set wall 9b. A pair of locking ridges 9c, 9c face each other on the inner surface of the set walls 9b, 9b, and three pairs of locking ridges 9c, 9c face each other with a gap between the set walls 9b, 9b.

Furthermore, at the longitudinal tip end of the opposing surface portion 9a, a pair of clamping pieces 11a, 11a are connected so that one side of each piece overlaps the outside of the set walls 9b, 9b. The clamping piece 11a extends upward beyond the upper end of the set wall 9b, and one side of the clamping pieces 11a, 11a is slanted so that they approach each other above the set walls 9b, 9b. A locking claw 11b protrudes from the tip of the clamping piece 11a, and a pair of locking claws 11b, 11b face each other on the inner side of the clamping pieces 11a, 11a. The locking claw 11b is triangular in cross section, with an acute-angled arrowhead shape at the top end.

As mentioned above, the set wall 9b and clamping piece 11a rise from one side of the opposing surface portion 9a, while a bearing 13 protrudes from the other side. This bearing 13 has an insertion hole 13a. A pair of insertion holes 13a are provided side by side in the width direction of the opposing surface portion 9a, and each insertion hole 13a, 13a faces toward the tip of the opposing surface portion 9a. Two pairs of bearings 13, 13 are provided at a distance along the length of the opposing surface portion 9a.

On the opposing portion 15 side, as with the opposing portion 9, a set wall 15b and a locking ridge 15c are connected to the opposing surface portion 15a. The set wall 15b rises on the same side as the set wall 9b, and these together form the set portion. On the side where the set wall 9b etc. rises, the set wall 9b and locking ridge 9c on the opposing portion 9 side and the set wall 15b and locking ridge 15c on the opposing portion 15 side are integrated with the intermediate portion 5 to form the tube set structure.

The outer surface of the tip of the set wall 15b is recessed in a rectangular shape, and a locking step 11c is formed between the outer surface and the periphery. This locking step 11c is U-shaped, with the upper end of the set wall 15b being the middle part of the U. A pair of locking steps 11c, 11c face each other on the outer surfaces of the set walls 15b, 15b.
The clamping piece 11a, the locking claw 11b, and the locking step 11c constitute the fixing means 11.
As described above, when the main portion 3 is bent, the clipping pieces 11a and the locking steps 11c approach each other, and when they reach their closest position, the clipping pieces 11a are elastically spread apart, the locking claws 11b are locked by the locking steps 11c, and the upper end faces of the set walls 9b and 15b come into contact with each other. This contact state is fixed by the locking structure.

As mentioned above, the set wall 15b rises from one side of the opposing surface portion 15a, but the set wall 15b continues on the other side as is, rising as a longitudinal posture guide wall 17a on the other side. However, the corner on the middle portion 5 side is missing and inclined. The longitudinal posture guide walls 17a, 17a extend parallel to each other, and their middle is closed by a widthwise posture guide wall 17b to separate the lengthwise direction. The widthwise posture guide walls 17b, 17b are provided at intervals, one of which is located on the inclined side. The posture guide wall 17 is composed of a rectangular frame made up of the longitudinal posture guide wall 17a and the widthwise posture guide wall 17b.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cylindrical nut portion. This nut portion 19 is sandwiched and connected to one end of a pair of side arms 21, 21. The arm body 21a of this side arm 21 is configured in the shape of an elongated strip, with the plate surfaces of the arm bodies 21a, 21a facing each other. One longitudinal end of the arm body 21a has a slightly acute L-shape, and the nut portion 19 is connected to the tip end of this L-shaped protrusion 21e. Therefore, the axial direction of the nut portion 19 intersects with the longitudinal direction of the arm body 21a.
The arm body 21a is bent vertically in the middle to form a step 21b, and the widthwise spacing between the arm bodies 21a is wider on the side farther from the nut portion 19. This step 21b forms an L-shaped recess in the outer surface of the arm body 21a, and a rectangular plate-shaped reinforcing portion 21c is fitted into this recess in the form of a rib.

The step 21b is formed at a position approximately one-third of the length of the arm body 21a from the nut portion 19 side, and where the widthwise spacing is wider, a pair of locking pieces 21d, 21d are provided facing each other in the widthwise direction. These locking pieces 21d are L-shaped and protrude convexly from the plate thickness surface of the arm body 21a, with their tips bent and protruding inward in the widthwise direction of the arm body 21a. The locking pieces 21d are provided on the side opposite the attachment side of the nut portion 19.

A cylindrical shaft 23 is installed between the other longitudinal ends of the arm bodies 21a, 21a. This shaft 23 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm bodies 21a, 21a, and the intermediate shaft 23a has a smaller diameter than the shafts 23b on both sides thereof.
The intermediate shaft 23a enters the holes of the bearings 13, 13 through the insertion holes 13a, 13a and is connected to the main section 3, allowing the side arms 21, 21 to rotate relative to the opposing section 9. Therefore, the side arms 21, 21 and the nut section 19 swing together like a swing. However, before use, the intermediate section 5 of the main section 3 is flat, the intermediate section 5 is sandwiched between the locking pieces 21d, 21d on the arm bodies 21a, 21a, and the longitudinal orientation guide walls 17a, 17a are sandwiched from the outside by the L-shaped base end on the attachment side of the nut section 19, and the side arms 21, 21 are held in an orientation in which they are laid down and unable to rotate relative to the main section 3.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a threaded portion. The threaded portion 25 has a screw shaft 25a that threads into the nut portion 19. The enlarged head portion 25b, which serves as the operating portion, is located on the side away from the shaft 23, which serves as the rotation center of the side arm 21.

The clamp 1 is configured as described above, with the middle section 5 of the main section 3 being the easiest to bend. When the clamp is bent by hand so that the set wall 9b is the inner surface of the bend, the bending center X is located at the middle section 5, as shown in Figure 5. The relief window 7 straddles this bending center X. The screw shaft 25a and the opposing surface 9a can be perpendicular or in a nearly perpendicular relationship, so the pushing direction of the screw shaft 25a is perpendicular to the abutting surfaces of the opposing sections 9, 15. Therefore, when the screw 25 is used to push, even the tightest double-folded bend can be easily reproduced.
Furthermore, the side arms 21, 21 are released from the attitude held, and become rotatable.
When the bent main part 3 is released, it tries to return to a flat shape due to the repulsive force of the leaf spring, but if the opposing part 15 is sandwiched in the swing formed by the side arms 21, 21 and further the tip of the screw shaft 25a is inserted into the posture guide wall 17, the return is prevented and the bent posture is maintained.
When the opposing portions 9, 15 overlap and the locking claws 11b, 11b are locked with the locking steps 11c, 11c and fixed, the most severely bent posture is maintained as shown in FIG.

By holding the tube T in a straightened state and clamping it between the locking ridges 9c, 9c on the opposing portion 9 side and the locking ridges 15c, 15c on the opposing portion 15 side, the tube T can be set in a state aligned with the main portion 3, as shown in Figure 7.
The tube T is slightly compressed between the opposing locking ridges 15c, 15c, but the necessary flow path is maintained. On the other hand, even if the tube T is pulled in the sliding direction, the presence of multiple locking portions along the sliding direction increases the sliding resistance, making it difficult to slide. When set, the entire circumferential surface of the tube T is exposed at the relief window 7 of the middle portion 5.

When the main section 3 is bent as shown in Figure 6 with the tube T set in place, the tube T is bent at the sharpest angle. The folding center Y of the tube T can protrude through the relief window 7, making it possible to bend it tightly as shown in Figure 8, and this bending achieves a watertight state. The arm body 21a of the side arm 21 and the nut section 19 form an L-shape with a slightly acute angle,
9, when the main section 3 is bent and the tip of the screw shaft 25a is inserted into the posture guide wall 17, the tip of the screw shaft 25a of the screw section 25 from the nut section 19 pushes, causing the tube T to bend in an L-shape along the main section 3. By adjusting the degree of extension of the screw shaft 25a, the bending angle of the main section 3 can be changed, maintaining the L-shape while adjusting the degree of opening of the included angle of the L-shape, i.e., the bending angle of the tube T. The bending angle of the tube T and the flow rate of the tube T are correlated, and by bending the tube T with the clamp 1, the degree of constriction of the flow path of the tube T can be adjusted.

When the head 25b of the screw portion 25 is turned by hand to advance the screw shaft 25a, the tip of the screw shaft 25a presses against the abutting opposing surface 15a, causing the main portion 3 to bend more tightly, and the included angle of the "L" shape of the tube T to become smaller and more acute accordingly. When the screw shaft 25a is unscrewed, the bend of the main portion 3 becomes less sharp, and the included angle of the "L" shape of the tube T to become larger accordingly.

The clamp 1 adjusts the flow rate of the tube T by manually turning the head 25b of the screw portion 25. Even for the same amount of flow rate change, the circumferential distance that the head 25b rotates is significantly longer than the distance moved by a conventional roller-shaped part, providing excellent operability and precise flow rate control. Two pairs of bearings 13, 13 are provided, and as shown in Figure 11, the closer they are to the outside of the opposing portion 9, the narrower the "L" shape created by bending the tube T can be. In other words, the range of bending angles for the tube T can be selected. The higher the desired flow rate, the closer to the outside of the opposing portion 9 should be selected.

Since it can be bent with a force significantly less than that required for compression, this clamp 1 can completely close and achieve watertightness despite its simple structure. Furthermore, this clamp 1 can be constructed with the same size and weight as conventional clamps, and does not place a load on the tube T.
Therefore, it can be handled in the same way as existing clamps.
The clamp 1 is a disposable resin molded product, and can be provided as an infusion set with a tube T pre-attached.

Figure 10 shows the side arm 21 with multiple scales that provide a rough guide to the flow rate and the flow rate (numerical value) that corresponds to the scale. By turning the screw portion 25 so that the upper end surface 15d of the opposing portion 15 is aligned with the desired scale, the flow rate can be roughly adjusted.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the specific structure can be changed as long as the tube can achieve a predetermined movement.
By adjusting the pitch of the screw and the diameter of the head 25b, it is possible to optimize the operability for the desired flow rate while ensuring precise flow rate control.

1... clamp 3... main portion 5... intermediate portion 7... relief window 9... opposing portion 9a... opposing surface portion
9b...Set wall 9c...Latching ridge 11...Fixing means
11a... clamping piece 11b... locking claw 11c... locking step 13... bearing 13a... insertion hole 15... opposing portion 15a... opposing surface portion 15b... set wall 15c... locking protrusion 15d... upper end surface 17... posture guide wall 17a... longitudinal posture guide wall 17b... width direction posture guide wall 19... nut portion 21... side arm 21a... arm body 21b... step 21c... reinforcement portion 21d... locking piece 21e... protruding piece 23... shaft
23a...Intermediate shaft 23b...Both side shafts 25...Threaded portion
25a...Screw shaft 25b...Head T...Tube X...Bending center Y...Folding center

Claims (8)

a tube set structure comprising a leaf spring-like main part that is bent so as to form a pair of opposing parts with a longitudinal intermediate part as the bending center, an escape window formed in the intermediate part across the bending center, and a set part that sets a tube along the inner surface of the bent main part across the escape window, so that when the tube is bent into a "L" shape by bending the main part, the folding center can escape and protrude outward from the escape window;
bending means for sandwiching and bending one of the opposing portions between a pressing portion connected to the other opposing portion;
an adjusting means for adjusting the gap between the one opposing portion and the pressing portion;
a fixing means for releasably fixing the one opposing portion and the pressing portion in a minimum distance state,
A clamp characterized in that the bending means, the adjusting means, and the fixing means are manually operated. The clamp according to claim 1,
A clamp characterized by comprising a pair of side arms rotatably connected to both sides of one of the opposing portions in the width direction, a nut portion supported by the pair of side arms to form a pressing portion, and a screw portion that can be threaded back and forth onto the nut portion, wherein the other opposing portion is sandwiched between the nut portion and one of the opposing portions, and the tip surface of the screw portion presses against the other opposing portion, thereby realizing the bending means and adjustment means. The clamp according to claim 2,
The clamp is characterized in that at the end of the other opposing part, posture guide walls for the screw shaft rise on both sides in the longitudinal direction and on the side of the escape window, and the posture of the posture guide wall on the side of the escape window is regulated against the spring repulsive force of the main part. The clamp according to claim 2 or 3,
This clamp is characterized by having multiple support points for a pair of side arms on both sides of the width of one of the opposing parts, allowing the width of the folding range angle of the tube to be adjusted by arbitrary selection. The clamp according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
A clamp characterized in that an indicator corresponding to the flow rate is displayed on the side arm, and the flow rate can be visually estimated from the positional relationship between the other opposing part and the indicator. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A clamp characterized in that the fixing means is composed of locking structures formed on both ends of the main part in the longitudinal direction. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A clamp characterized by being made of a resin molded product. An infusion set comprising a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7 attached to a tube.