Reusable Umbilical Cord Clamp For Veterinary Use

Abstract

An integrally molded, plastic umbilical cord clamp for veterinary use is provided with a novel latch structure at the free ends of the jaws so that the clamp can be more readily applied and then later removed and reused.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbilical cord or funis clamps are common enough for newborn infants and there are many designs for that purpose. Such clamps are much more rarely, if ever, used in veterinary medicine even though they are no less desirable in order to help prevent the entrance of bacteria and consequence infection as well as to control hemorrhaging. Many newborn animals are lost simply because such clamps particularly for veterinary use are not available. Most such clamps for human use, at least those currently in use, are not intended to be reused; indeed, they are expressly constructed so that once engaged they are difficult if not impossible to remove. But reasons which prescribe non-reuse of umbilical cord clamps for human infants do not necessarily apply in the case of veterinary use. Thus a clamp for veterinary application expressly constructed so that it can be easily removed by a one handed operation and reused, and an advantageous design of such a clamp is the chief object of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The veterinary clamps of the present invention are integrally molded from a suitable, somewhat resilient plastic. Two serrated jaws are joined at one end by an integral hinge portion. The other end of one of the jaws is integrally formed to provide a simple latch which secures the clamp to the umbilical cord. When the clamp is applied, pressing the jaws together causes the latch to snap over the free end of the other jaw. This can easily be done with one hand, leaving the other free. One of the jaws is marked to indicate the optimum pressure point for easy latching of the jaws. In order to assist removal of the clamp the latch is provided with an integral, upstanding nose so that the latch can be readily disengaged in a simple manipulation, also requiring only one hand. The latch is relieved in an area which helps it to flex more easily into and out of engagement with the other jaw when the clamp is applied and removed, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the clamp of the present invention shown in its open position.

FIG. 2 is a similar view but showing the clamp latched in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The clamp 10, as noted, is integrally molded from a suitable plastic, such as a high density polyethylene, and consists of two elongated jaws 11 and 12 of rectangular cross section joined by an integral hinge 13 in the form of a loop of lesser cross-sectional area. The particular size of clamp illustrated in the drawings is for use on calves and foals; shorter ones may be used for pigs and lambs. The clamp 10 is molded in its open position shown in FIG. 1, the material being sufficiently resilient so that manual pressure on the outer jaw faces 14 and 15 is needed to spring the jaws 11 and 12 to its closed position shown in FIG. 2. The clamping faces 16 and 17 of the jaws 11 and 12 are provided with sets of interlocking, teeth-like serrations 18 whose apices 19 extend transversely of the jaws 11 and 12 and are somewhat dished or concave, as shown in FIG. 3, in order better to accommodate an umbilical cord between them.

The free or outer end of the jaw 11 is integrally extended toward the other jaw 12 to provide a retaining arm 20 whose outer end is molded in the form of a latch 21 extending therefrom toward the hinge 13, the latch 21 being spaced from the jaw clamping face 16 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the jaw 12 between its faces 15 and 17. The outer end of the jaw 12, in turn, is inclined toward the jaw face 17 to form a ramp 22 which engages the latch 21 when the jaws 11 and 12 are pressed together. The ramp 22 flexes the arm 20 and latch 21 outwardly until the latch 21 snaps over the end of the jaw 12 onto a latch face 23 at its outer end, thus retaining the jaws 11 and 12 in clamping engagement as shown in FIG. 2. In order to assist the movement of the latch 21, the retaining arm 20 is recessed or weakened at 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, across its outer end wall. Also, in order to aid in closing the clamp, the optimum pressure point on the jaw face 15 is designated by a small transverse projection 25. Thus when the clamp 10 is applied, the index finger of one hand is placed on the jaw face 14 and the thumb of that hand on the projection 25, whereupon when the clamp 10 is squeezed the two jaws 11 and 12 are readily latched together. To help removal of the clamp 10 by one hand, the outer end of the retaining arm 20, adjacent the root of the latch 21, is provided with an integral nose 26 by which the latch 21 can be readily pushed outwardly by the thumb of the hand to release the clamp 10.

Though the present invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, being the best mode known of carrying out the invention, it is not limited to that embodiment alone. Instead, the following claims are to be read as encompassing all modifications and adaptations of the invention falling within its spirit and scope

Claims

I claim:

1. In a reusable veterinary umbilical cord clamp, the clamp being integrally molded from resilient plastic material with first and second longitudinally extending jaw members, each of the jaw members having a cord clamping face and a manipulative face disposed along opposite longitudinal walls of the jaw member, the two jaw members being integrally joined at their proximal ends by resilient hinge means so that the clamping faces of the two jaw members are in opposed relation to each other, the hinge means being effective to provide for clamping movement of the jaw members against the resiliency of the hinge means from an open position to a closed position in which the jaw clamping faces are urged into engagement with an animal umbilical cord therebetween upon conjoint pressure on the two manipulative faces of the jaw members, the two jaw members being bowable between their proximal and distal ends to accommodate varied thicknesses of animal umbilical cords therebetween, the distal end of the first jaw member having an integral clamp retaining portion extending transversely therefrom toward the second jaw member, the clamp retaining portion having opposite first and second walls disposed transversely of the jaw clamping and manipulative faces, the first wall of the clamp retaining portion facing the hinge means and having an integral latch portion adjacent the distal end of the retaining portion extending transversely therefrom toward the hinge means in spaced relation to the clamping face of the first jaw member, the retaining and latch portions together being resiliently movable from a first position to a second position away from the hinge means relative to the first jaw member, the distal end of the second jaw member having a transverse end face inclined from the second jaw member manipulative face to its jaw clamping face in the direction of the hinge means effective to engage the latch portion and flex the retaining and latch portions together from their first to their second position upon clamping movement of the jaw members as aforesaid, the retaining and latch portions thereafter snapping back to their first position to engage the latch portion with a latch face on said end of the second jaw member so that the distal end of the second jaw member is disposed and retained between the latch portion and the clamping face of the first jaw member, whereby the jaw members and their jaw clamping faces are retained in clamping engagement with an animal umbilical cord therebetween, the improvement comprising: a recess in the clamp retaining portion second wall, the recess extending transversely across said wall and disposed between the latch portion and the clamping face of the first jaw member, whereby the retaining portion is weakened in the area of the recess permitting the latch portion to flex more readily between its first and second positions relative to the first jaw member and in conjunction with said inclined end face to assist the latch and retaining portions in maintaining the jaw members in clamping engagement with animal umbilical cords of varying thickness therebetween, and a clamp releasing portion integrally formed with the retaining portion, the clamp releasing portion extending outwardly from the distal end of the retaining portion adjacent the latch portion and beyond the confines of the remainder of the retaining portion and the jaw members when in clamping engagement, the clamp releasing portion being thereby effective to be readily manipulated to flex the retaining and latch portions toward their second position in order to disengage the latch portions from the latch face and thus permit the jaw members to move to their open position and release and animal umbilical cord between the jaw clamping faces.

2. The clamp of claim 1 wherein the manipulative face of the second jaw member adjacent its distal end includes indicia integrally formed therewith to indicate the optimum point at which pressure is to be applied to said manipulative face to cause engagement of the latch portion and face upon clamping movement of the jaw members as aforesaid.

3. The clamp of claim 2 wherein the jaw clamping faces are provided with complementary sets of serrations having concave apices extending transversely across said faces, the respective sets of the serrations interlocking with each other when the jaw members are in their closed position.