APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SUPPORT OF A MEMBRANE FILTER IN A MEDICAL INFUSION SYSTEM
A removable clamp, for supporting a membrane filter in a medical infusion system, includes connected and opposing walls. A locking feature, which may be connected to an end of one of the walls, engages and disengages a terminal end of the other wall. The filter may be inserted between the opposing walls of the clamp, and an inner surface of each of the opposing walls may be secured against corresponding major surfaces of the inserted filter, by only pressing at least one of the opposing walls of the clamp toward the other of the opposing walls.
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The present invention pertains to medical infusion systems and more particularly to the support of membrane filters incorporated therein.
BACKGROUNDFluid circuits of medical infusion systems typically include at least one filter to assure that air, and/or other gases, are not introduced, for example, into a venous system of a patient, along with the infused fluid. The membrane-type filter includes a hydrophilic membrane, which extends between an inlet and an outlet of the filter, and a hydrophobic membrane which extends between the inlet and vent holes of the filter. The hydrophilic membrane is fluid permeable, yet gas impermeable, and the hydrophobic membrane is fluid impermeable, yet gas permeable. The design and operation of these membrane-type filters are known to those skilled in the art. One such filter is the Speedflow Adult 0.2 μm Positive, which is available from GVS Group (headquartered in Bologna, Italy).
Membrane filters are typically constructed for relatively low pressure applications (i.e. less than approximately 3.5 bar or approximately 50 psi), and to be relatively inexpensive, flexible and disposable. Thus, the housings of these filters may be susceptible to failure, if the filters are employed by infusion systems that inject fluids at higher pressures. Support for the housings of these filters has been proposed, yet, there is still a need for new apparatus and methods for supporting membrane filters.
The following drawings include those illustrative of particular embodiments of the present invention, and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides practical illustrations for implementing exemplary embodiments. Utilizing the teaching provided herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples have suitable alternatives that can be utilized.
With reference back to
With further reference to
According to the illustrated embodiment, first, terminal end 221 of second support wall 220 bends away from first support wall 210, such that first, terminal end 221 can interlock with terminal portion 21 of first sidewall 201, when second support wall 220 is deflected toward first support wall 210.
According to the illustrated embodiment, after filter 10 is inserted between support walls 210 and 220 of clamp 200, first, terminal end 221 of second support wall 220 may be engaged by locking feature 250, by simply pressing second support wall 220 toward first support wall 210.
With further reference to
Turning now to
According to some embodiments of the present invention, fluid circuit 300 of infusion system 400 incorporates filter 10, which is supported by clamp 200, for example, as is illustrated in
Filter 10, being supported by clamp 200, may be directly mounted within cabinet 410 of infusion system 400, for example, along an inside wall 407 thereof (
According to some methods of the present invention, in order to assemble filter 10 into fluid circuit 300, such that the filter can withstand the aforementioned pressure pulses without failure, filter 10 is first inserted between opposing support walls 210, 220 of clamp 200, either before or after connecting one or both of inlet and outlet fittings 152, 172 to inlet and outlet tubing lines 325, 327, respectively. After filter 10 is inserted, the one assembling circuit 300, need only press second support wall 220 toward first support wall 210, or visa versa, in order to engage first, terminal end 221 of second support wall 220 with locking feature 250 of clamp 200, thereby securing inner surfaces of support walls 210, 220 against corresponding surfaces 121, 122 of filter 10. This securing step may be performed either before or after connecting inlet and outlet fittings 152, 172 of filter 10 to corresponding tubing lines 325, 327. When circuit 300 is disassembled, after a predetermined life, clamp 200 may be removed from filter 10, for example, by deflecting first and second sidewalls 201, 202 away from one another to release first, terminal end 221 of support wall 220 from the interlock with terminal portion 21 of first sidewall 201, so that clamp 200 may be re-used to support another filter.
In the foregoing detailed description, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it may be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A removable clamp comprising:
- a first support wall extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;
- a first sidewall extending substantially orthogonally from the first end of the first support wall, the first sidewall including a locking feature that extends substantially parallel to the first support wall and includes a terminal end that projects towards the first support wall;
- a second sidewall extending substantially orthogonally from the second end of the first support wall; and
- a second support wall extending from the second sidewall in a direction substantially parallel to the first support wall, the second support wall defining a terminal portion extending away from the first support wall that is configured to engage with the terminal end of the locking feature of the first sidewall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, wherein the first support wall includes a first plateau projecting toward the second support wall and the second support wall includes a second plateau projecting toward the first support wall, and
- wherein, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, the first plateau defines a first planar mating surface parallel to both the first support wall and the second support wall, and the second plateau defines a second planar mating surface parallel to both the first support wall and the second support wall.
22. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein, in combination, the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall define a rectangular-shaped cavity configured to receive a housing of a membrane filter.
23. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the first plateau is positioned between the first end and the second end of the first support wall and the second plateau is positioned between the second sidewall from which the second support wall extends and the terminal portion defined by the second support wall so that, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, a distance between the first support wall and the second support wall is greater adjacent the first sidewall and the second sidewall than between the first sidewall and the second sidewall where the first plateau and the second plateau are positioned.
24. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, the first planar mating surface is separated from the second planar mating surface by a constant distance across a width of the first plateau and a width of the second plateau.
25. The removable clamp of claim 24, wherein the constant distance ranges from approximately 0.351 inches to approximately 0.354 inches.
26. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the second support wall further comprises a strengthening feature extending outwardly away from the first support wall.
27. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the first support wall, the second support wall, and the locking feature are integrally formed.
28. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall are integrally formed.
29. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall are each formed from plastic.
30. The removable clamp of claim 30, wherein the plastic comprises a polycarbonate resin.
31. The removable clamp of claim 21, wherein the second support wall is fixedly and flexibly connected to the second support wall so as to allow the terminal portion of the second support wall to move toward and away from the first support wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 12, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2012
Applicant: BRACCO DIAGNOSTICS, INC. (Princeton, NJ)
Inventor: Ernest BALESTRACCI (Iselin, NJ)
Application Number: 13/494,208