Hose Clamp for Clamping Shut a Medical Hose

Abstract

A hose clamp for clamping shut a medical hose includes two clamping legs. In relation to a duct transverse direction in each case, one delimiting element is disposed on opposite transverse sides of a passage duct. The delimiting elements are designed in such a manner that the passage duct in the region of the clamping faces is closed in the duct transverse direction. The passage duct in the duct transverse direction is at least in portions released both ahead of and behind the clamping faces in relation to the duct longitudinal direction, such that the hose to be clamped shut, when viewed in a lateral direction, remains uncovered by the delimiting elements across as wide a region of the passage duct as possible. The hose clamp can be used in infusion therapy.

Claims

1. A hose clamp for clamping shut a medical hose, the hose clamp comprising: two clamping legs which are mutually movable about a pivot axis between an opening position and a clamped-shut position and in the clamped-shut position are mutually latched by a latch; a passage duct for receiving the hose to be clamped shut, wherein the passage duct along a duct longitudinal direction extends between two passage openings and in relation to a duct vertical direction on an upper side and a lower side is in each case at least in portions covered by the clamping legs; and two clamping elements which are disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the passage duct and which have in each case one clamping face, said clamping faces by way of a movement of the clamping legs being mutually actuatable to the clamped-shut position in such a manner that the passage duct in the duct vertical direction is capable of being constricted and the hose that is receivable in the passage duct is capable of being clamped shut, wherein, in relation to a duct transverse direction in each case one delimiting element is disposed on opposite transverse sides of the passage duct, wherein the delimiting elements are designed in such a manner that the passage duct in a region of the clamping faces is closed in the duct transverse direction and said passage duct in the duct transverse direction is at least in portions released both ahead of and behind the clamping faces in relation to the duct longitudinal direction, such that the hose to be clamped shut, when viewed in a lateral direction, remains uncovered by the delimiting elements across as wide a region of the passage duct as possible.

2. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements in the duct longitudinal direction extend in each case across a length of the clamping elements.

3. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements in the duct longitudinal direction extend in each case across at most double a length of the clamping faces.

4. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements are in each case configured in the form of a strip that is oriented substantially in the duct vertical direction.

5. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements have in each case one front edge and one rear edge which run in a mutually parallel or wedge-shaped manner.

6. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements in the duct transverse direction are in each case flush with the face, or recessed, in relation to in each case one outside wall portion of one of the clamping legs.

7. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements are disposed on the upper one of the clamping legs in the duct vertical direction.

8. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements in an alternating manner are disposed on the upper clamping leg or the lower clamping leg.

9. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements are configured so as to be integral to the clamping legs and to the clamping elements.

10. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein an extent of the delimiting elements in the duct vertical direction corresponds to at least a height of the passage duct between the clamping faces when the clamping legs are in the opening position.

11. The hose clamp according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting elements have in each case one wall portion which is in each case supported in the duct transverse direction in relation to one sliding wall portion of one of the clamping legs and/or of the clamping elements and in a sliding manner is movable perpendicular in relation to the duct transverse direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0016] Further advantages and features of the disclosure are derived from the description hereunder of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated by means of the drawing figures, of which:

[0017] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a hose clamp according to the disclosure in an opening position in a schematic perspective illustration (FIG. 1), a side view (FIG. 2), and in a sectional illustration (FIG. 3) in a section plane B-B according to FIG. 2;

[0018] FIGS. 4 to 6 show the hose clamp as per FIGS. 1 to 3 in a clamped-shut position in a schematic perspective illustration (FIG. 4), in a side view (FIG. 5), and in a sectional illustration (FIG. 6) along a sectional plane A-A according to FIG. 5; and

[0019] FIGS. 7 to 9 show a further embodiment of a hose clamp according to the disclosure, similar to that of FIGS. 4 to 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] A hose clamp 1 as per FIGS. 1 to 6 is provided for clamping shut a medical hose 2 (FIG. 1) in particular in an infusion therapy.

[0021] The hose clamp 1 has two clamping legs 3a, 3b. The two clamping legs 3a, 3b are interconnected by way of an arcuate flexible wall portion 3c and to this extent are mutually movable about a pivot axis (not indicated in more detail) between an opening position (FIGS. 1 to 3) and a clamped-shut position (FIGS. 4 to 6). The in relation to the image plane of FIGS. 1 to 6 upper clamping leg 3b on the end side has a latching cam 4. Accordingly, the lower clamping leg 3a on the end side has a latching hook 5. The latching cam 4 and the latching hook 5 form a latching means 4, 5 of the hose clamp 1, by way of which the clamping legs 3a, 3b in the clamped-shut position are mutually latched. The hose clamp 1 furthermore has a forward passage opening 6a and a rearward passage opening 6b. The passage openings 6a, 6b are in each case configured in the form of a substantially elliptic passage and are disposed in the wall of the lower clamping leg 3a, or the wall of the upper clamping leg 3b, respectively, and of the arcuate wall portion 3c. A passage duct 7 for receiving the hose 2 to be clamped shut extends between the passage openings 6a, 6b at least in portions along a duct longitudinal direction L. The passage duct 7 in relation to a duct vertical direction H is at least in portions covered by the clamping legs 3a, 3b on an upper side and a lower side. Moreover, the hose clamp 1 has clamping elements 8a, 8b that are disposed on the wall portions of the clamping legs 3a, 3b that face the passage duct 7. The clamping elements 8a, 8b in relation to the duct vertical direction H are disposed on opposite sides of the passage duct 7 and in each case have one clamping face 9a, 9b. The clamping elements 8a, 8b are in each case configured in the form of a clamping jaw that is designed so as to be wedge-shaped. The clamping faces 9a, 9b have in each case the shape of a cylindrical sleeve portion and to this extent are designed so as to be convex or bead-shaped. The clamping faces 9a, 9b are mutually actuatable by way of a movement of the clamping legs 3a, 3b to the clamped-shut position, said movement being activatable in a known manner by finger pressure onto the external faces of the clamping legs 3a, 3b. As a consequence of this actuation, the passage duct 7 in the region of the clamping faces 9a, 9b is capable of being constricted in the duct vertical direction H, the hose 2 to be clamped shut thus being capable of being clamped shut on the hose sleeve portion that is disposed between the clamping faces 9a, 9b. The hose clamp 1 in this way forms a type of blocking member having two functional positions (opened, closed) for a volumetric flow that flows through the hose 2.

[0022] The hose clamp 1 furthermore has two delimiting elements 10a, 10b. The delimiting elements 10a, 10b in relation to a duct transverse direction Q are disposed on opposite transverse sides of the hose clamp 1 and to this extent on opposite transverse sides of the passage duct 7. The delimiting elements 10a, 10b are designed in such a manner that the passage duct 7 in the region of the clamping faces 9a, 9b is closed in the duct transverse direction Q. Any unintentional lateral bulging of the hose 2 to be clamped shut and thus bypassing or an only partial clamping shut of the hose 2 is counteracted in this way. Moreover, the delimiting elements 10a, 10b are designed in such a manner that the passage duct 7 is at least in portions released in the duct transverse direction Q ahead of as well as behind the clamping faces 9a, 9b in relation to the duct longitudinal direction L. This guarantees a good visibility of the clamping region between the clamping faces 9a, 9b such that medical personnel can readily check a functionally correct clamping of the hose 2 at any time.

[0023] The delimiting elements 10a, 10b are configured so as to be integral to the clamping legs 3a and 3b, and to the clamping elements 8a and 8b, such that an integral embodiment of the hose clamp 1 is achieved. The hose clamp 1 can preferably be produced as a plastic injection-molded component.

[0024] The delimiting elements 10a, 10b are furthermore in each case configured in the form of a strip 11a, 11b. Said strips 11a, 11b are in each case disposed as a type of appendage on the opposite sides of the clamping element 8b and thus on the upper clamping leg 3b.

[0025] In relation to the duct longitudinal direction L the delimiting elements 10a, 10b extend in each case approximately across the length of the clamping faces 9a, 9b. In as far as the clamping elements 8a, 8b instead of the wedge-shaped design embodiment are configured as vertical wall portions, it can be sufficient for the delimiting elements 10a, 10b in the duct longitudinal direction L to in each case extend approximately across the length of the clamping elements 8a, 8b. The respective length of the delimiting elements 10a, 10b presently is in any case not more than 1.5 times the length of the clamping faces 9a, 9b. A particularly good visibility of the hose to be clamped shut in the region of the clamping faces 9a, 9b is achieved in this manner.

[0026] The delimiting elements 10a, 10b have in each case one front edge 12 and one rear edge 13. The front edge 12 and the rear edge 13 run so as to be substantially mutually parallel, wherein edge profiles that deviate therefrom are of course also possible. The front edge 12 and the rear edge 13 can particularly preferably run in the mutually wedge-shaped manner, wherein the spacing between the front edge 12 and the rear edge 13 tapers off from top to bottom in relation to the duct vertical direction H.

[0027] The delimiting elements 10a, 10b are in each case flush with the face of an outside wall portion 14a, or 14b, respectively, of the upper clamping leg 3b in the duct transverse direction Q. The delimiting elements 10a, 10b furthermore have in each case one inside wall portion 15a, or 15b, respectively. These wall portions 15a, 15b in relation to the duct transverse direction Q are in each case supported in relation to a sliding wall portion 16a, or 16b, respectively. The two sliding wall portions 16a, 16b are outside end faces of the clamping element 8a that is disposed on the lower clamping leg 3a. In a movement of the clamping legs 3a, 3b between the opening position and the clamped-shut position the delimiting elements 10a, 10b by way of the inside wall portions 15a, 15b thereof are supported so as to be movable in a sliding manner in relation to the sliding wall portions 16a, 16b. Lateral guiding of the clamping legs 3a, 3b is achieved in this way, and canting of the hose clamp 1 is counteracted.

[0028] As can be furthermore seen, in particular by means of FIGS. 1 to 3, the extent of the delimiting elements 10a, 10b in the duct vertical direction H corresponds at least to the height of the passage duct 7 between the clamping faces 9a, 9b when the clamping legs 3a, 3b are in the opening position. In other words, the delimiting elements 10a, 10b are designed in such a manner that the passage duct 7 in the region of the clamping faces 9a, 9b by means of the delimiting elements 10a, 10b is at all times closed in the duct transverse direction Q and to this extent is closed independently of the position of the clamping legs 3a, 3b.

[0029] The hose clamp according to FIGS. 7 to 9 corresponds largely to the hose clamp 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 6. In order for repetitions to be avoided, reference is therefore additionally made to the description pertaining to the hose clamp according to FIGS. 1 to 6. The points of differentiation of the hose clamp according to FIGS. 7 to 9 will be discussed hereunder, wherein FIG. 9 shows a sectional illustration along the section line in FIG. 8.

[0030] The hose clamp according to FIGS. 7 to 9 has an upper clamping leg 3d and a lower clamping leg 3c. Each clamping leg 3c, 3d is in a laterally external manner assigned in each case one delimiting element 10c, 10d, the latter being mutually diametrically opposite and in the transverse direction being in each case offset so as to protrude toward the other clamping leg. The delimiting elements 10c, 10d are consequently disposed in an alternating manner on the upper clamping leg 3d or on the lower clamping leg 3c. This means that the delimiting element 10c according to the illustration as per FIGS. 7 to 9 is molded so as to be integral to the upper clamping leg 3d, while the other delimiting element 10d is molded on the lower clamping leg 3c. The alignment of the delimiting elements 10c, 10d, and the respective overlap in the region of clamping faces corresponds to that of the embodiment as per FIGS. 1 to 6.