Flow Stop Assembly with Pincher Occlusion for Variable Tubing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pinch clamps for medical fluid infusion are designed for specific tubing sizes, making them ineffective for variations in tube sizes, leading to performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A flow stop assembly with a pincher mechanism that can fold tubing over a protrusion to occlude fluid flow, accommodating a wide range of tubing sizes, using mechanisms like rotating or translating pinchers and linkage systems to control fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pinch clamps are designed for specific tubing sizes, then the clamp can effectively control flow for that size, but it becomes ineffective when tube size varies
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate multiple tubing sizes. The clamping mechanism includes adjustable components and a compliant clamping surface that can adapt to different tube diameters, allowing a single device to effectively control flow across various tubing specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The pinch clamp incorporates dynamic elements such as spring-loaded arms or elastomeric materials that allow the clamping force to automatically adjust to the tubing size. This dynamic adaptation enables the clamp to maintain effective sealing and flow control regardless of the specific tube diameter being used.
2Device complexity
If pinch clamps are designed for a single tube size, then the structure can be simple, but performance deteriorates when tube size varies
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp design incorporates parameters that can change or adjust, such as variable clamping force through spring mechanisms or elastomeric materials with specific durometer ratings. These parameter changes allow the clamp to maintain reliable flow occlusion across different tubing sizes without requiring completely different clamp designs for each tube diameter.
3Reliability
If the pincher folds tubing over a protrusion, then flow occlusion is reliable, but there is risk of damaging the tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion that the tubing folds over is covered with a flexible, compliant material such as elastomer or rubber. This flexible covering allows the tubing to fold and occlude flow effectively while preventing stress concentration and damage to the tubing wall, maintaining both occlusion reliability and tubing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A compliant intermediary material is introduced between the rigid protrusion and the tubing. This intermediary layer acts as a mediator that transmits the folding action needed for flow occlusion while protecting the tubing from direct contact with sharp or rigid edges that could cause damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Flow stop assemblies are described herein. A flow stop assembly configured to control flow through a tubing includes a flow stop base and a pincher. The flow stop base includes a base wall, at least one pincher guard, a tubing guide, a pincher recess, a pincher protrusion, and a base extension. The pincher is movable relative to the base extension and is configured to move between a flow position and an occlusion position, wherein in the flow position the pincher surface is spaced apart from the pincher protrusion and in the occlusion position, the pincher surface is disposed adjacent to the pincher protrusion and is configured to obstruct flow through the tubing.