Endotracheal Tube Clamp

Abstract

A disposable clamp for holding an endotracheal tube or the like during use comprises a pair of superimposed waferlike clamping members formed with complementary cutaway portions to define an aperture for receiving the tube. The members provide respective pairs of parallel upstanding walls of sawtooth profile which engage one another to prevent separation of the clamping members. The members are retained in superimposed relation by means of interfitting dovetail or equivalent formations. When assembled, the clamping members can be separated only by breaking one of the clamping members, for which purpose a line of easy fracture is provided.

Description

This invention relates to a disposable clamp for holding an endotracheal tube in a set position during use. When an endotracheal tube is applied to a patient, it is most important that the tube be positioned accurately and maintained in the set position for the duration of use. In general it is necessary to clamp the tube in position by means which engage the tube and encircle the patient's head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a clamping device which is simple to apply and safe during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An endotracheal tube clamp according to the present invention comprises a pair of cooperating clamping members which securely clamp the tube between them, the clamping members being constructed so as to engage one another in a manner which prevents their release. One of the clamping members is formed with a line of weakness to permit the member to be broken when it becomes necessary to release the clamp. In this way accidental separation of the members is prevented.

Essentially, the clamp comprises a pair of U-shaped clamping members each having a yoke portion and a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions, and means for securing an attachment band to the clamping members, the clamping members being superimposable to define between the yoke portions and limb portions thereof an aperture for receiving the endotracheal tube, each clamping member defining a pair of longitudinally extending wall portions positioned to engage the pair of longitudinally extending wall portions of the other clamping member, for retaining the members in superimposed relationship, each clamping member defining at least one longitudinally extending wall portion of sawtooth profile positioned to engage the corresponding wall portion of the other clamping member for preventing release of the clamping members, and one of the clamping members being formed with a line of weakness to permit said one member to be broken readily in order to separate the clamping members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of the first clamping device, the clamping members being separated and positioned ready to engage an endotracheal tube;

FIG. 2 illustrates the clamping device firmly engaging the endotracheal tube;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates the method of separating the clamping members, and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the second clamping device, partly broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A disposable clamping device for securely holding an endotracheal tube 1 comprises a first U-shaped clamping member 2 and a second U-shaped clamping member 3, each clamping member being a one-piece moulding of plastics material. The member 2 consists of a yoke portion 4, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions 5, 6, a projection 7 integral with the upper surface 8 of the yoke portion 4, and a projecting tab 9 at one edge for securing one end of an attachment band 10. The attachment band 10 is a tape or the like adapted to be passed around the back of the patient's head in the manner known in the art.

The second clamping member 3 consists of a yoke portion 11, a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions 12, 13, and a projection 14 of dovetail cross section integral with the lower surface of the yoke portion 11. A projection tab 30 is provided for securing the attachment band 10. A pair of longitudinally extending channels 15, 16 on the upper and lower surfaces of the yoke portion 11 define a line of weakness which permits the clamping member to be readily broken.

The two clamping members are adapted to be superimposed, as shown in FIG. 2, so as to define between the yoke portions and limb portions thereof an aperture 17 for receiving the endotracheal tube 1, the members being longitudinally slidable one over the other so as to shorten the aperture and firmly grip the tube 1. Separation of the clamping members is prevented by means of an interfitting dovetail formation provided by the dovetail projection 14 and a pair of longitudinally extending walls 18, 19 of complementary dovetail form at the inner edges of the limb portions 5 and 6.

The projection 7 defines a pair of longitudinally extending walls 20, 21 of sawtooth profile, which are positioned to engage a correspondingly profiled pair of walls 22, 23 defined by the inner edges of the limb portions 12, 13 of the second clamping member. To assemble the clamping members the walls 18, 19 are engaged with the dovetail projection 14, the latter defining a pair of retaining edges or walls for retaining the limb portions 5, 6, and the walls 20, 21 are engaged with the walls 22, 23. The sawtooth profiles of the latter are arranged so that the teeth can slide over one another, by virtue of the resilience of the limb portions 12, 13, as the clamping members are closed together, but so that the clamping members cannot be moved apart.

It will therefore be seen that the clamp illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 cannot be unfastened except by breaking the clamping member 3 along its line of weakness as illustrated in FIG. 4.

It is apparent that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In one such modification, the two clamping members are substantially similar, the projections 7 and 14 both being of dovetail cross section and defining sidewalls of sawtooth profile, these walls being engageable with walls of corresponding dovetail formation and sawtooth profile defined by the inner edges of the limb portions.

In another modification, the projection 14 instead of being of dovetail cross section is formed with a flange lying parallel to the lower surface of clamping member 3 and adapted to engage the lower surface of clamping member 2.

In yet another modification, the projection 14 on clamping member 3 is omitted, and the mutually engageable pairs of walls 20, 21 and 22, 23 are shaped to provide the necessary dovetail formation or equivalent.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that there is no necessity for both walls of each pair 20, 21 and 22, 23 to be of sawtooth profile; it is sufficient that the walls of at least one mutually engageable pair be of sawtooth profile for the purpose described.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the second clamping device is basically similar to the first clamping device described above, and corresponding parts thereof are denoted by the same reference numerals as are used in FIG. 1, but are primed.

The clamping device comprises a first U-shaped clamping member 2' and a second U-shaped clamping member 3', each clamping member being a one-piece moulding of plastics material. The member 2' consists of a yoke portion 4', a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions 5', 6', a projection 7' integral with the upper surface 8' of the yoke portion 4', and a projecting tab 9' for securing one end of an attachment band 10'.

The second clamping member 3' consists of a yoke portion 11', a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions 12', 13', a projection 14' integral with the lower surface of the yoke portion 11', and a projecting tab 30' for securing the other end of the attachment band 10'. The two clamping members fit together to provide a circular aperture wherein the endotracheal tube 1' is received and gripped.

In the present example, a transverse line of weakness is formed across the first clamping member, the line of weakness intersecting the aperture 17' for receiving the tube 1'. The projection 7' is of dovetail cross section and engages a pair of longitudinally extending walls of complementary dovetail form at the inner edges of the limb portions of the second clamping member. The projection 14', however, is not dovetailed, and defines a pair of longitudinally extending walls of sawtooth profile, which are positioned to engage a correspondingly profiled pair of walls defined by the inner edges of the limb portions of the first clamping member.

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A disposable clamp for holding an endotracheal tube, comprising a pair of U-shaped clamping members each having a yoke portion and a pair of longitudinally extending parallel limb portions, and means associated with portions of said clamping members securing an attachment band to the clamping members, the clamping members being superimposed to define between the yoke portions and limb portions thereof an aperture for receiving the endotracheal tube, each clamping member defining a pair of longitudinally extending wall portions engaging the pair of longitudinally extending wall portions of the other clamping member, for retaining the members in superimposed relationship, each clamping member defining at least one longitudinally extending wall portion of sawtooth profile positioned to lockingly engage the corresponding sawtooth profiled wall portion of the other clamping member for preventing release of the clamping members, and one of the clamping members being formed with a line of weakness to permit said one member to be broken readily in order to separate the clamping members.

2. A disposable clamp for holding an endotracheal tube comprising

a. a first U-shaped clamping member having a yoke portion, a pair of parallel longitudinally extending limb portions, and a projection integral with said yoke portion, the projection defining a first pair of longitudinally extending parallel walls of sawtooth profile,

b. a second U-shaped clamping member having a yoke portion and a pair of parallel longitudinally extending limb portions, the limb portions providing a second pair of longitudinally extending parallel walls of sawtooth profile lockingly engaged with said sawtooth profiled portions of said first pair of walls,

c. means associated with portions of said first and second clamping members for securing an attachment band define the clamping members,

d. the clamping members being superimposed to define between the yoke portions and limb portions thereof an aperture for receiving the endotracheal tube, said pairs of parallel walls mutually engaging one another to prevent release of the clamping members,

e. said clamping members being of interfitting dovetail formation for retaining the clamping members in superimposed relationship, and

f. one of the clamping members having a line of weakness to permit said one member to be broken readily in order to separate the clamping members.

3. A disposable clamp for holding an endotracheal tube, comprising

a. a first U-shaped clamping member having a yoke portion, a pair of longitudinally extending limb portions, a flat upper surface, and a projection from said flat upper surface, the projection defining a first pair of parallel longitudinally extending walls of sawtooth profile,

b. a second U-shaped clamping member having a yoke portion, a pair of longitudinally extending limb portions, a flat lower surface, and a projection from said flat lower surface, the limb portions defining a second pair of longitudinally extending walls of sawtooth profile lockingly engaged with said sawtooth profiled portions of said first pair of walls, and the projection defining a pair of longitudinally extending retaining edges engageable with the limb portions of the first clamping member,

c. means associated with portions of said first and second clamping members securing an attachment band to the clamping members,

d. the clamping members being assembled with the flat surfaces thereof superimposed to define between the yoke portions and limb portions an aperture for receiving the endotracheal tube, said clamping members being retained in assembled relation by the mutual engagement of said pairs of longitudinally extending wall portions and by engagement of said retaining edges with the limb portions of the first clamping member,

e. one of the clamping members having a line of weakness to permit said one member to be broken readily in order to separate the clamping members.

4. A disposable clamp according to claim 3, wherein the means securing the attachment band to the clamping members is an integral tab formed on a limb member of each clamping member.

5. A disposable clamp according to claim 3, wherein the clamping members are of moulded plastics material.