Clamp

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a clamp capable of performing operation of a reservoir and retention of a non-communicating state of a flow passage by an easy operation.　A clamp 100 in which a bag-shaped reservoir 1 communicating with a tube 2 is to be incorporated comprises: a first holding piece 10 and a second holding piece 20 that swing with respect to each other to clamp and compress the reservoir 1; a first clamp part 11 and a second clamp part 21 that swing with respect to each other to clamp and compress the tube 2; and a first locking claw 12 and a second locking claw 22 that swing with respect to each other and stop swinging of each other when hooked to each other. The first clamp part 11 and the first locking claw 12 swing together with the first holding piece 10, the second clamp part 21 and the second locking claw 22 swing together with the second holding piece 20, and, after the first holding piece 10 and the second holding piece 20 have compressed the reservoir 1, the tube 2 is compressed by the first clamp part 11 and the second clamp part 21, and the first locking claw 12 and the second locking claw 22 stop swinging of each other.

Description

clamp

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamp into which a bag-like reservoir communicating with a tube is incorporated.

[0002] Balloon catheters have been known for use in patients with urinary disorders, spinal cord injuries, etc. Many users of this type of balloon catheter are elderly patients or patients with disabilities in their fingers, and due to issues with dexterity or weak finger strength, they have difficulty with the operations required for placement of the balloon catheter, such as collapsing the reservoir to fill the balloon of the balloon catheter with the fluid from the reservoir (Operation A), and holding the collapsed reservoir while applying a clamp to prevent the fluid from returning to the reservoir (Operation B), as well as the operations required for removal of the balloon catheter, such as releasing the clamp to allow the fluid from the balloon of the balloon catheter to flow back into the reservoir (Operation C), which has led to them abandoning the use of the balloon catheter.

[0003] To overcome these difficulties, one-action clamps have been proposed that allow the above-mentioned operations A and B to be performed in a single operation (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, with these one-action clamps, it was not easy to perform operation C when removing the balloon catheter. For this reason, a reservoir has been proposed that allows operations A and B to be performed simply by operating a syringe, and that allows operation C to be performed simply by pressing a release button (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

[0004] Patent No. 6373465 Patent No. 6397960 Patent No. 6677766

[0005] Since patients can lead more comfortable daily lives if the reservoir can be removed from the balloon catheter while the balloon catheter is indwelling in the patient's body, it is desirable to attach a one-way valve to the balloon catheter to enable the reservoir to be removed.

[0006] However, with the clamps and reservoirs of the above-mentioned conventional technology, it was not possible to seal the flow path connecting to the reservoir and make it non-communicative. Therefore, when the reservoir was removed from the balloon catheter, the pressure inside the reservoir was released to atmospheric pressure, which could cause the fluid inside the reservoir to leak out and wet clothing, etc.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and to provide a clamp that allows for easy operation of the reservoir and maintenance of a disconnected state of the flow path.

[0008] The present invention provides a clamp into which a bag-shaped reservoir communicating with a tube is incorporated, the clamp comprising first and second clamping pieces that swing relative to each other to pinch and crush the reservoir, first and second clamping portions that swing relative to each other to pinch and crush the tube, and first and second locking claws that swing relative to each other and stop their swinging when they catch on each other, wherein the first clamping portion and the first locking claw swing together with the first clamping piece, and the second clamping portion and the second locking claw swing together with the second clamping piece, and after the first and second clamping pieces crush the reservoir, the first and second clamping portions crush the tube, and the first and second locking claws stop their swinging relative to each other.

[0009] In this case, the first clamp portion may be located closer to the first clamping piece than the first engaging claw. The second engaging claw may be provided with a first knob for pivoting the second engaging claw relative to the second clamping piece in a direction away from the first engaging claw. The second clamp portion may pivot integrally with the first knob relative to the second clamping piece. The second clamping piece may be provided with a second knob facing the first knob. The second knob and the second clamping piece may extend in a straight line. The distance between the first knob and the second knob may increase as the position increases away from the second clamp portion. The first clamping piece, the second clamping piece, the first clamp portion, the second clamp portion, the first engaging claw, and the second engaging claw may be integrally formed of an elastic body. The first and second clamping pieces may each have a protrusion formed on a surface facing each other. The protrusion may extend along the direction in which the first and second clamping pieces extend. The protrusion may extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first or second clamping piece extends.

[0010] The present invention can provide a clamp that allows the reservoir to be operated and the flow path to be switched between a communication state and a non-communication state with a simple operation.

[0011] 1 shows a perspective view of a clamp according to the present embodiment; FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the clamp; FIG. 3 shows a side view of a clamp in a connected state with a reservoir incorporated; FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a clamp in a connected state with a reservoir incorporated; FIG. 5 shows a side view of a clamp in a disconnected state with a reservoir incorporated; FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a clamp in a disconnected state with a reservoir incorporated; FIG. 7 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a clamp according to a modified example; FIG. 8 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a clamp according to a modified example.

[0012] A clamp according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the clamp, Fig. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the clamp, Fig. 3 shows a side view of the clamp in a connected state with a reservoir incorporated therein, Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp in a connected state with a reservoir incorporated therein, Fig. 5 shows a side view of the clamp in a disconnected state with a reservoir incorporated therein, and Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp in a disconnected state with a reservoir incorporated therein.

[0013] The clamp 100 incorporates a reservoir 1 (see FIG. 3) that is fluidly connected to a balloon (not shown) of a balloon catheter (not shown) that is primarily inserted into the urethra. The reservoir 1 is formed in a bag shape from an elastic resin and stores a fluid for inflating the balloon. The reservoir 1 communicates with a tube 2 (see FIG. 3) that communicates with the balloon of the balloon catheter. When the reservoir 1 is crushed by an external force, the stored fluid is ejected toward the balloon, causing it to inflate.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the clamp 100 has a first clamping piece 10 and a second clamping piece 20 that swing relative to each other to clamp and crush the reservoir 1, a first clamping portion 11 and a second clamping portion 21 that swing relative to each other to clamp and crush the tube 2, and a first locking claw 12 and a second locking claw 22 that swing relative to each other and stop the swinging of each other when they catch on each other.

[0015] The first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 are connected by a connecting portion 30 and are configured to swing around the connecting portion 30. Each of the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 has a flat surface that abuts against the reservoir 1. The first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 are formed in a shape such that the distance between the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 increases as the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 move farther from the connecting portion 30, which is the swing fulcrum.

[0016] The clamp 100 is formed from an elastic resin and integrally comprises a first clamping piece 10, a second clamping piece 20, a first clamping portion 11, a second clamping portion 21, a first locking claw 12, a second locking claw 22, and a connecting portion 30.

[0017] The first clamping piece 10 is formed in a plate shape. The first clamping piece 10 is provided with a first clamping portion 11 and a first locking claw 12 on the opposite side of the connecting portion 30.

[0018] 2, the first clamp portion 11 has a wedge-shaped tip 11a that comes into contact with the tube 2. When the first clamp portion 11 swings together with the first clamping piece 10 and the first locking claw 12, the tip 11a faces the second clamp portion 21 of the second clamping piece 20. The first clamp portion 11 is located closer to the first clamping piece 10 than the first locking claw 12.

[0019] The first locking claw 12 has a wedge-shaped tip 12a that comes into contact with the second locking claw 22 of the second clamping piece 20. When the first locking claw 12 swings together with the first clamping piece 10 and the first clamp portion 11, the tip 12a is hooked onto the second locking claw 22 of the second clamping piece 20.

[0020] The first clamping piece 10, the first clamping portion 11, and the first locking claw 12 are formed to be thicker than the connecting portion 30, and are therefore more rigid than the connecting portion 30. This allows the first clamping piece 10, the first clamping portion 11, and the first locking claw 12 to swing together with the connecting portion 30 as a fulcrum.

[0021] The second clamping piece 20 is formed in a plate shape with approximately the same dimensions as the first clamping piece 10. The second clamping piece 20 is provided with a second clamp portion 21 and a second locking claw 22 on the opposite side of the connecting portion 30. The second clamping piece 20 is formed to be thicker than the connecting portion 30, and has higher rigidity than the connecting portion 30.

[0022] The second clamping portion 21 is formed in a wedge shape, and its tip 21 a comes into contact with the tube 2. When the second clamping portion 21 swings together with the second clamping piece 20 and the second locking claw 22, the tip 21 a faces the tip of the first clamping portion 11 of the first clamping piece 10.

[0023] The second locking claw 22 is formed integrally with the second clamping piece 21 in a wedge shape, and has a corner 22a formed thereon for receiving the first locking claw 12 of the first clamping piece 10. This corner 22a is formed by a bottom surface 22b extending toward the tip 21a of the second clamping piece 21 and a wall surface 22c rising approximately perpendicularly from the bottom surface 22b. When the second locking claw 22 swings together with the second clamping piece 20 and the second clamping piece 21, the wedge-shaped portion of the second locking claw 22 becomes caught on the first locking claw 12 of the first clamping piece 10, and then the first locking claw 12 comes into contact with and fits into the corner 22a.

[0024] The second locking claw 22 is provided with a first knob 23 for swinging the second locking claw 22 relative to the second clamping piece 20 in a direction away from the first locking claw 12. The second clamp portion 21, which is formed integrally with the second locking claw 22 in a wedge shape, also swings integrally with the first knob 23 relative to the second clamping piece 20.

[0025] Meanwhile, the second clamping piece 20 is provided with a second knob 24 opposite the first knob 23 on the opposite side of the connecting portion 30. The distance between the first knob 23 and the second knob 24 increases as the distance from the second clamp portion 21 increases. The second knob 24 and the second clamping piece 20 are formed to extend in a straight line, and a flat surface 24a perpendicular to the direction in which the first knob 23 and the second knob 24 face each other is formed on the outside. This allows the clamp 100 to be stably placed on a table or the like.

[0026] The clamp 100 has a cavity formed between the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 for incorporating the reservoir 1, and the reservoir 1 is adapted to pass between a pair of opposing connecting portions 30.

[0027] A through hole 11b for passing the tube 2 is formed between the first clamp portion 11 and the first gripping piece 10. The first locking claw 12 has a recess 12d formed therein to separate it into a first claw portion 12b (see FIG. 1) and a second claw portion 12c (see FIG. 1), and the through hole 11b passes through the recess 12d between the first claw portion 12b and the second claw portion 12c.

[0028] A through hole 21b for passing the tube 2 is formed between the second clamp portion 21 and the second clamping piece 20. A recess 22f is formed in the second locking claw 22 and the second clamp portion 21 to separate them into a first claw portion 22d (see FIG. 1) and a second claw portion 22e (see FIG. 1), and the through hole 21b passes through the recess 22f between the first claw portion 22d and the second claw portion 22e.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the clamp 100 is configured to incorporate a tube 2 and a bag-shaped reservoir 1 that communicates with the tube 2. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the reservoir 1 is incorporated between the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 and between a pair of connecting portions 30, 30 (see Fig. 3), and the tube 2 is incorporated through the through-holes 11b and 21b. In this figure, the tube 2, which is a flow path from the reservoir 1, is in a communicated state, and the reservoir 1 and the balloon of the balloon catheter are in fluid communication.

[0030] The operation of the clamp 100 will now be described. When placing a balloon catheter inside a patient's body, the user pinches the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 with their fingers to narrow the gap between them, causing the reservoir 1 to be crushed between the swinging first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20, as shown in Figure 5. At this time, the clamp 100 crushes the tube 2 with the first clamping piece 11 and the second clamping piece 21 after the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 have crushed the reservoir 1. As a result, the tube 2, which is the flow path from the reservoir 1, is crushed and put into a disconnected state, preventing fluid communication between the reservoir 1 and the balloon of the balloon catheter. That is, the operation for placing the balloon catheter is to collapse the reservoir and fill the balloon of the balloon catheter with the fluid in the reservoir (operation A), and then hold the collapsed reservoir and apply a clamp to prevent the fluid from returning to reservoir 1 (operation B).

[0031] When the user pinches the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 with their fingers to further close them, the first locking claw 12 and the second locking claw 22 become engaged, stopping the mutual swinging of the first clamping piece 10, the first clamp portion 11, and the first locking claw 12 and the second clamping piece 20, the second clamp portion 21, and the second locking claw 22 from returning to their original state. This keeps the tube 2 in a disconnected state even without the user holding it with their fingers, and prevents the fluid in the reservoir from leaking out even when the reservoir 1 is detached from the balloon catheter by a joint (not shown) or the like connected to the end of the tube 2.

[0032] On the other hand, when removing the balloon catheter, the user pinches the first knob 23 and the second knob 24 with their fingers to narrow the gap between them. This releases the second locking claw 22, which swings relative to the second clamping piece 20 together with the first knob 23, from the first locking claw 12 of the first clamping piece 10. The elastic force of the connecting portions 30, 30 causes the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 to return to their open state, as shown in FIG. 3 . At this time, the tube 2, which is the flow path from the reservoir 1, returns to a connected state, thereby establishing fluid communication between the reservoir 1 and the balloon of the balloon catheter. That is, the operation for removing the balloon catheter is performed by releasing the clamp to allow the fluid in the balloon of the balloon catheter to flow into the reservoir (operation C).

[0033] The clamp 100 of this embodiment has a first clamping piece 10 and a second clamping piece 20 that swing relative to each other to clamp and crush the reservoir 1, a first clamping portion 11 and a second clamping portion 21 that swing relative to each other to clamp and crush the tube 2, and a first locking claw 12 and a second locking claw 22 that swing relative to each other and stop their swinging when they catch on each other.The first clamping portion 11 and the first locking claw 12 swing together with the first clamping piece 10, and the second clamping portion 21 and the second locking claw 22 swing together with the second clamping piece 20.After the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 crush the reservoir 1, the first clamping portion 11 and the second clamping portion 21 crush the tube 2, and the first locking claw 12 and the second locking claw 22 stop their swinging together. As a result, the user can put the tube 2 into a disconnected state after discharging the fluid in the reservoir 1 simply by operating the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 with their fingers. Therefore, the operation of the reservoir 1 and the maintenance of the disconnected state of the flow path can be performed with simple operations.

[0034] Furthermore, the user of clamp 100 can release the engagement between first locking claw 12 and second locking claw 22 simply by operating first knob 23 and second knob 24. At this time, because flat surface 24a perpendicular to the direction in which first knob 23 and second knob 24 face each other is formed on the outside, clamp 100 can be stably placed on a table or the like, and while placed on the table or the like, the user can release the engagement between first locking claw 12 and second locking claw 22 simply by pushing first knob 23 toward the table or the like.

[0035] Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the opposing surfaces of the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20, i.e., the surfaces that contact the reservoir 1, are formed flat. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 can pinch and crush the reservoir 1 by swinging relative to each other, the opposing surfaces of the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 may have protrusions 10a, 20a, and 20b having a cross section, such as a crescent shape, that extend along the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20, as shown in FIG. 7 , or protrusions 10b, 10c, and 20c having a cross section, such as a crescent shape, that extend in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20, as shown in FIG. 8 . In this case, the protrusions 10a, 10b, 10c of the first clamping piece 10 and the protrusions 20a, 20b, 20c of the second clamping piece 20 may be positioned such that when the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 close against each other, the protrusions 10a, 10b, 10c of the first clamping piece 10 and the protrusions 20a, 20b, 20c of the second clamping piece 20 abut at their vertices, thereby crushing the reservoir 1 at their vertices. In addition, when the first clamping piece 10 and the second clamping piece 20 are closed relative to each other, the protrusions 10a, 10b, 10c of the first clamping piece 10 and the protrusions 20a, 20b, 20c of the second clamping piece 20 may be arranged in an alternating positional relationship to interlock with each other, making it easier to crush the reservoir 1.

[0036] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Reservoir 2...Tube 10...First clamping piece 10a, 10b, 10c...Protrusion 11...First clamp portion 11a...Tip 11b...Through hole 12...First locking claw 12a...Tip 12b...First claw portion 12c...Second claw portion 12d...Recess 20...Second clamping piece 20a, 20b, 20c...Protrusion 21...Second clamp portion 21a...Tip 21b...Through hole 22...Second locking claw 22a...Corner portion 22b...Bottom surface 22c...Wall surface 22d...First claw portion 22e...Second claw portion 22f...Recess 23...First knob 24...Second knob 24a...Flat surface 30...Connecting portion 100...Clamp

Claims

1. A clamp into which a bag-shaped reservoir communicating with a tube is to be incorporated, the clamp having first and second clamping pieces which swing relative to each other to pinch and crush the reservoir, first and second clamping parts which swing relative to each other to pinch and crush the tube, and first and second locking claws which swing relative to each other and stop their swinging when they catch on each other, wherein the first clamping part and the first locking claw swing together with the first clamping piece, and the second clamping part and the second locking claw swing together with the second clamping piece, and after the first and second clamping pieces crush the reservoir, the first and second clamping parts crush the tube and the first locking claw and the second locking claw stop their swinging together.

2. A clamp as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said first clamping portion is located closer to said first clamping piece than said first engaging claw.

3. A clamp as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second engaging claw is provided with a first knob for swinging the second engaging claw relative to the second clamping piece in a direction away from the first engaging claw.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said second clamping portion swings integrally with said first knob relative to said second clamping piece.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the second clamping piece is provided with a second knob opposite the first knob.

6. The clamp according to claim 5, wherein said second knob and said second clamping piece extend in a straight line.

7. A clamp as described in claim 5, characterized in that the distance between said first knob and said second knob increases as the distance from said second clamp portion increases.

8. A clamp as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first clamping piece, the second clamping piece, the first clamping portion, the second clamping portion, the first engaging claw, and the second engaging claw are integrally formed from an elastic body.

9. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece each have a protrusion formed on the mutually opposing surfaces.

10. A clamp as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said projection extends in the same direction as said first clamping piece and said second clamping piece.

11. A clamp according to claim 9, characterized in that the projection extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first clamping piece or the second clamping piece extends.

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