TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a gravity intravenous (IV) set or infusion pump flow control device, and in particular a precision roller clamp assembly.

BACKGROUND

Flow controllers in the form of roller clamps are used in the medical field for intravenous (IV) applications. Typical roller clamps control a flow rate through an IV tube by clamping the tube in between a roller wheel and a housing. This approach, for one, provides a limited range of flow rate control because the roller wheel is essentially too sensitive in that a small movement of the roller wheel or dimension change causes a large change in flow rate of the fluid through the tube. Thus, the relatively course flow rate change provided by a typical roller clamp makes it difficult to provide precise flow control.

Also, typical roller clamps have flow rate drifting issues based on slippage of the roller wheel, such as when fluid pressure in the tube causes the roller wheel to roll back from the adjusted position. Further, typical roller clamps are sized for a specific IV set tube dimension, which requires having different sized roller clamps for use with various IV set tube dimensions.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a precision roller wheel assembly that works with multiple IV tube sizes, provides quick course flow rate adjustments and fine flow rate adjustments, and eliminates or minimizes roller wheel slippage.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments provide a roller clamp assembly. The roller clamp assembly includes a housing configured to receive a portion of a connector tube of an infusion set. The housing includes two opposing side walls spaced apart from each other, each side wall having an opposing guide groove longitudinally positioned in an interior surface, a front wall disposed at one end of the side walls; and a guide wall disposed between the side walls, the guide wall converging along its length toward the position of the guide grooves. The roller clamp assembly also includes a roller wheel having two axial projections slidingly seated in the guide grooves, the roller configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the housing as the projections slide in the guide grooves, wherein spacing between the guide wall and the roller wheel decreases over a length of the guide wall. The roller clamp assembly further includes a plate configured to slideably engage with a portion of the housing. The plate includes a grip member and a tube engagement member configured to compress the connector tube a varying amount as the plate is moved in relation to the housing.

One or more embodiments provide a gravity infusion set. The infusion set includes a piercing spike, a drop chamber, a connector tube, a fitting and a roller clamp assembly. The roller clamp assembly includes a housing configured to receive a portion of a connector tube of an infusion set. The housing includes two opposing side walls spaced apart from each other, each side wall having an opposing guide groove longitudinally positioned in an interior surface, a front wall disposed at one end of the side walls; and a guide wall disposed between the side walls, the guide wall converging along its length toward the position of the guide grooves. The roller clamp assembly also includes a roller wheel having two axial projections slidingly seated in the guide grooves, the roller configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the housing as the projections slide in the guide grooves, wherein spacing between the guide wall and the roller wheel decreases over a length of the guide wall. The roller clamp assembly further includes a plate configured to slideably engage with a portion of the housing. The plate includes a grip member and a tube engagement member configured to compress the connector tube a varying amount as the plate is moved in relation to the housing.

One or more embodiments provide a method of adjusting a fluid flow rate through a connector tube coupled to a fluid source. The method includes inserting the connector tube through a housing of a roller clamp assembly having a roller wheel and a moveable plate; sliding the moveable plate relative to the housing to compress the connector tubing with a first impingement to produce a coarse adjustment that causes a rapid decrease in the fluid flow rate through the connector tube; and rolling the roller wheel relative to the housing to compress the connector tubing with a second impingement to produce a fine adjustment that causes a further gradual decrease in the fluid flow rate through the connector tube.

The foregoing and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

