Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Stanford C Stone

Larry H Dodge

John A Howard, Jr

A flexible clamp for IV tubing, and in particular for use in a free flow prevention system. The flexible clamp has a pair of generally elongate clamping arms defining a slot for receiving the IV tubing. The flexible clamp has a resilient bias tending to bring the clamping arms to a closed position wherein the IV tubing is squeezed between the clamping arms to close the lumen of the IV tubing to prevent fluid flow, and the clamping arms are movable against the resilient bias of the flexible clamp to an open position wherein the clamping arms are spread from one another relative to the closed position such that the lumen of the IV tubing is allowed to open so that flow through the lumen of the IV tubing is permitted. Complementary interlocking structures on the free ends of the clamping arms are brought into interlocking relationship when the clamping arms are brought to their closed position, thereby tending to prevent skewing of the free ends of the clamping arms out of the plane of motion of the clamping arms.

Flexible clamp for use in IV tubing set

A free flow prevention system for preventing free flow of fluid through IV tubing when the tubing is disconnected from an infusion pump. A flexible clamp is provided having a pair of clamping arms, which define a variable width slot for receiving the IV tubing. The IV tubing may be moved along the slot between a first position wherein the width of the slot is sufficient to permit the clamp to be positioned longitudinally along the IV tubing, and a second position wherein the width of the slot is normally less than the width of the slot at the first position. The clamping arms are resiliently biased to a closed position wherein the IV tubing is squeezed when in its second position to close the lumen to prevent fluid flow. A clamp-receiving passageway and clamp-opening wedge are provided on the infusion pump. The clamp-opening wedge is movable relative to a clamp received in the passageway to an operating position, wherein the wedge moves the arms of the flexible clamp against their bias to an open position wherein the lumen of the IV tubing is allowed to open to permit fluid flow during operation of the pump.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Stanford C Stone