A flow control clamp having a first member and a second member movable from a first open position to a second irreversibly closed position wherein flow through a tube associated with the clamp is irreversibly prevented and cannot be restored. Systems and methods using such clamps are also disclosed.

A clamp includes a fixed portion on which a medical tube is placed, a movable portion that is provided above the fixed portion to face the fixed portion, and a closing portion that presses and closes the medical tube when the movable portion is pressed toward the fixed portion. The closing portion includes a presser that protrudes from the movable portion toward the fixed portion and presses the medical tube, a pair of sidewalls that extends, like a wall, from both sides of the fixed portion and prevents the medical tube from being shifted laterally, and a guide structure that allows the presser to be guided between the sidewalls.

A method of controlling flow through a flexible tube includes providing a pinch clamp mechanism including a pinching element and a pinching surface configured to apply a force on the flexible tube when the flexible tube is positioned between the pinching element and the pinching surface. The method also includes displacing the pinching element relative to the pinching surface with a mechanical drive unit and biasing the pinching element toward the pinching surface with a spring.

A blood bag system includes a clamp installed in a flexible first tube. The clamp includes: a base section having a protrusion section, an opening/closing section having a pressing protrusion section that presses a side surface of the first tube, and a bent section that connects the base section and opening/closing section. The base section is provided with a pair of cutout sections opened to a side surface where the first tube can be inserted by interposing the protrusion section. The clamp is configured such that a portion of the first tube where the clamp is installed is bent while the clamp is released.

A tube clamp closes a flexible tube by applying a pinching force to walls of the flexible tube. The clamp includes a housing connected to a circular flange, the circular flange including a tubular wall surrounding a central bore and including at least one slot in the tubular wall sized to accept the flexible tube. A pinching element is positioned inside the central bore and is rotatable about a central axis of the circular flange. The pinching element includes a pinching projection that has a cross-sectional shape bound by a partial circle, and the partial circle has a radius substantially same as an inner radius of the tubular wall.

A linearly actuated pinch clamp is provided, including a housing, a motor connected to the housing, a mechanical drive unit connected to the motor for converting a rotary motion of the motor to a linear motion and for introducing a mechanical advantage to the motion of the motor, and a pinching element having a body and a pinching surface. The pinching element body is coupled to the mechanical drive unit. In certain versions of the pinch clamp, the pinching element is slidably mounted to the housing such that the pinching element is linearly displaceable by the mechanical drive unit between a first position and a second position where the pinching surface cooperates with a fixed surface to pinch closed a flexible tube.

A faucet assembly for a beverage dispensing container and container liner assembly with a tube, the container having a fitting assembly, includes a main body having a first surface and a connection assembly for connecting to the fitting assembly; a lid having a lid having a second surface and closed and open positions, the closed position including the first surface being held against the second surface so that the lid and the main body define a distal passageway for holding the tube and having a centerline, the centerline defining three points not on a straight line, and the open position including the first surface being in a position not held against the second surface; and a valve assembly connected with the main body for selectively pinching closed a tube extending through the distal passageway.

A clamp for selectively compressing a portion of tubing, such as an extension leg of a PICC or other catheter, is disclosed. The clamp is able to be opened or closed with a thumb and finger of a single hand of a user and is slidably attached to the tubing so as to enable its placement as desired along the tube. In one embodiment, the tubing clamp comprises a body including first and second body portions hingedly connected to one another in a clamshell configuration, a latch for releasably latching the first and second body portions together, and at least two tube compression members. The tube compression members cooperate to compress and occlude a portion of tubing passing through the tubing clamp when the first and second body portions are latched to one another.

A faucet assembly for a beverage dispensing container and container liner assembly with a tube, the container having a fitting assembly, includes a main body having a first surface and a connection assembly for connecting to the fitting assembly; a lid having a lid having a second surface and closed and open positions, the closed position including the first surface being held against the second surface so that the lid and the main body define a distal passageway for holding the tube and having a centerline, the centerline defining three points not on a straight line, and the open position including the first surface being in a position not held against the second surface; and a valve assembly connected with the main body for selectively pinching closed a tube extending through the distal passageway.

A pinch valve having a clamping member (300) mounted between two side walls (110) of a valve housing, the side walls extending parallel to a hose guide axis and to a plunger guide axis. Each of the side walls has a step (112) extending parallel to the hose guide axis and recessing with respect to the advancing direction of the plunger. The clamping jaws (320) of the pinch valve, upon displacement of the clamping member (300), move over the steps (112) with their outer sides, which face away from the hose guide, bearing against the side walls (110).