Pinch Clamp Hinge and Tab Design for IV Tubing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pinch clamps for intravenous tubing suffer from sharp edges that can irritate patients, difficulty in grasping due to hard smooth surfaces, and unintentional disengagement when lateral force is applied.
Innovation Solution
Design of a pinch clamp with hinges and rounded shapes, featuring opposing openings and retaining tabs that secure the arms together, preventing lateral disengagement and enhancing manufacturing simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a smooth hard plastic material is used for the clamp, then the clamp is resilient and capable of controlled flexion, but the sharp edges created by molding or extrusion can scratch or irritate the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing sharp edges with rounded surfaces on the clamp body. The extrusion process is modified to create continuously curved surfaces instead of sharp angular edges, eliminating the harmful sharp edges while preserving the structural integrity and flexion capabilities of the hard plastic material.
2Strength
If a hard smooth plastic material is used for the clamp, then the clamp maintains structural integrity, but it creates difficulty in grasping and manipulating the clamp during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing textured surfaces at specific locations on the clamp body where user contact occurs. These textured regions provide enhanced grip and manipulability, while the rest of the clamp maintains its hard smooth plastic material for structural integrity. This localized modification allows the clamp to be both strong and easy to handle.
3Strength
If a hard smooth plastic material is used for the clamp, then the clamp is resilient, but it results in unintentional disengagement when lateral force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating features that preemptively counteract lateral forces before they can cause disengagement. The clamp design includes elements such as lateral blocking surfaces or interlocking features that engage beforehand to prevent the arms from separating under lateral stress, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the resilience of the hard plastic material.
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 improves patient comfort by eliminating sharp edges, facilitates easier handling, and ensures secure engagement of the clamp, reducing the likelihood of unintentional disengagement while simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first arm that is coupled to a second arm by hinges
Implementation Method 2
The retaining tabs interface with the openings to prevent the first arm from separating from the second arm
Implementation Method 3
The molding or extrusion process of manufacturing a pinch clamp generally results in the clamp having sharp edges which may scratch or otherwise irritate the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A pinch clamp for use in occluding intravenous tubing or other similar tubing can include patient comfort features and/or lateral disengagement prevention features. These features can also be designed in a manner that allows the pinch clamps to be more easily manufactured. A pinch clamp can include a first arm that is coupled to a second arm by hinges. Each of the first and second arms can form a clamping surface that are aligned when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The first arm can include opposing openings and the second arm can include opposing tabs which insert through the openings when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The retaining tabs interface with the openings to prevent the first arm from separating from the second arm.