Pinch Clamp Profile With Blocking Ribs to Prevent Rebound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pinch clamps suffer from sharp edges causing patient discomfort, bulkiness, lateral disengagement, and over-engagement leading to rebound, which results in reflux and increased risk of occlusion or infection.
Innovation Solution
The pinch clamp design features a pinch profile with upper and lower clamping surfaces configured to compress tubing, positioning the pinch point at the distal end and incorporating blocking ribs to prevent distal travel, thereby minimizing rebound and enhancing patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional molding process is used to manufacture pinch clamp, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sharp edges are created causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp incorporates rounded edges and curved surfaces throughout its structure, replacing sharp angular transitions with smooth radii. This is achieved through modified mold design that creates rounded clamping surfaces, rounded hinge edges, and rounded terminal portions, eliminating patient discomfort while maintaining the injection molding manufacturing process
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional molding process is used to manufacture pinch clamp, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the clamp becomes relatively bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp design optimizes dimensional parameters including wall thickness distribution, arm cross-sectional dimensions, and hinge geometry to minimize overall volume. The design uses thinner walls where structurally adequate and optimizes the compactness of the clam-shell structure when closed, reducing bulkiness while maintaining manufacturability through injection molding
3Device complexity
If traditional pinch clamp design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but lateral disengagement occurs when arms move laterally in closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp incorporates asymmetric lateral engagement features including a asymmetric tab on one arm that mates with a corresponding asymmetric slot or feature on the other arm. This asymmetric configuration prevents lateral disengagement by creating directional interference that blocks sideways movement while allowing the intended closing motion, adding minimal complexity to maintain reliability
4Ease of operation
If traditional pinch clamp design is used, then ease of engagement is maintained, but over-engagement occurs leading to rebound and reflux
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch clamp incorporates a mechanical stop feature that prevents over-engagement by physically blocking further closing motion once the optimal clamping position is reached. This stop feature acts in advance to prevent the harmful rebound effect that occurs when the clamp is pressed too far, while still allowing easy engagement through the normal closing motion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves positive displacement while preventing rebound, reducing the force required for engagement, minimizing lateral disengagement, and enhancing patient comfort by eliminating sharp edges and preventing reflux.
Implementation Method 1
an upper arm that is connected to a lower arm via a living hinge
Implementation Method 2
A biased terminal portion extends upwardly from the lower arm
Data Source
AI summary
Pinch clamps are provided which generate positive displacement while also preventing rebound. To prevent rebound while providing positive displacement, the upper and lower clamping surfaces may be configured to form a pinch profile along which the tubing is compressed with the pinch point being formed at the distal end of the pinch profile. To further prevent rebound, the lower arm of the pinch clamp can include blocking ribs that interface with the upper clamping surface to prevent distal travelling of the pinch point even if the upper arm is forced into an over-engaged position.