Infusion Slide Clamp with Orientation Support Arm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide clamps for IV infusion pumps fail to maintain the infusion tubing in a fixed orientation, leading to improper loading and increased risk of kinking, which can result in incorrect operation and potential harm to patients, especially during emergencies when medical personnel are rushed.

Innovation Solution

A slide clamp with integrated handles and a support arm that holds the tubing in a fixed orientation relative to the pump, preventing kinking and ensuring proper loading by maintaining the upstream portion away from the pump, and incorporating coding for compatibility with specific infusion tubing types to restrict operational modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional slide clamp is used without additional support structures, then the device complexity is low, but the tubing orientation is not fixed leading to improper loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing loading accuracyVSAvoidslide clamp structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the slide clamp with an integrated support arm structure into a single unified device. The support arm extends from the slide clamp body and includes a tubing support surface that contacts and orients the tubing in the correct direction before it enters the pump, ensuring proper loading while maintaining a compact integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support arm performs preliminary action by pre-positioning and orienting the tubing in the correct direction before the tubing enters the pump. The support surface on the arm guides the tubing orientation upstream away from the pump, preventing improper loading before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the slide clamp is made small and compact, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it becomes difficult to insert and remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide clamp insertion and removalVSAvoidslide clamp structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slide clamp is segmented into distinct functional portions: a head portion with a flat top surface for finger engagement, a body portion with the clamp mechanism, and an integrated support arm. This segmentation allows the top surface to be optimized for ease of operation while the body and arm provide the necessary clamping and support functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flat top surface of the head portion acts as an intermediary element that facilitates user interaction. This surface provides a convenient engagement point for fingers to grip, insert, and remove the slide clamp from the pump, mediating between the user and the compact clamp mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the slide clamp does not fix tubing orientation, then the device complexity is low, but harmful factors increase due to risk of drawing blood from patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidslide clamp structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support arm structure creates preliminary anti-action by physically preventing the tubing from being inserted in the wrong direction. The support surface and geometric configuration of the arm oppose and block improper tubing orientation, counteracting the potential harmful action before it can happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS10086136B2Method for controlling drug delivery through an infusion set

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 CAREFUSION CORP

AI summary

A slide clamp for use with an infusion pump and infusion set provides finger grips and support members for supporting the infusion tubing. The finger grips make the slide clamp easier to use while reducing the risk of error. The tubing support members reduce the likelihood of improperly loading the tubing and reduce the risk of kinking the tubing during use. An infusion set is provided wherein the slide clamp may be coded through the use of colors, holes, or the like so as to identify the type of infusion tubing used therewith. The infusion pump can identify the code on the slide clamp and thereby determine the type of infusion tubing, and thereby allow access only to infusion programs for drugs or infusion solutions which are compatible with the particular type of infusion tubing.