Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR SEVE~ING AND CL,AMPING AN
UMBILICAL CORD AND CLAMP FOR CLAMPING UM~ILICAL CORD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates toanew surgical instrument for severing an
umbilical cord while simultaneously compressing the placental end of the
umbilical cord and applying a hemostatic clamp uFon a section of the cord.
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The umbilical cord is a rope-like structure which connects
the ~etus to the placenta. The cord contains two arteries and
one vein. The arteries carry blood containing waste products
from the fetus to the placenta. The vein carries blood contain-
ing oxygen and food substances obtained from the mother's blood
back to the fetus.
At the present time, the procedure followed by many obste-
tricians following the delivery of the baby, is to clamp two
separate hemostats on the umbilical cord at spaced positions and
use a pair of sclssors to sever the umbilical cord. Subse~uently
an umbilical cord clamp is manually applied to the cord adjacent
the baby's navel and a second cutting of the redundant portion of
the cord between the clamp and the hemostat is performed.
In recent years various umbilical cord clamping assemblies
have been designed to improve and expedite the process of sever-
ing the umbilical cord and properly clamping it. An example is
in U.S. Patent No. 3,150,666, which shows an instrument ~or
clamping one end of the umbilical cord and then applying an elas-
tic band around the cord. Another instrument, disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,166,071, provides means for simultaneously applying two
spaced-apart umbilical cord clamps and severing the umbilical
cord therebetween. Likewise, U.S. Patent No. 4,428,374 shows an
umbilical cord clamping assembly for simultaneously applying a
pair of spaced-apart umbilical clamps, connected by a connecting
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member. As the clamping tool applies the clamps, it severs both
the cord and the connecting member between the clamps.
U.S. Patent 4,026,294 presents another exarnple of a clamping
and cutting surgical instrument wherein two umbilical clamps are
applied to the cord after which the cord is severed. U.S. Patent
No. 3,631,858 shows another simultaneously clamping and severing
device including clamping jaws and cutting jaws held together in
side-by-side relationship by a web. ~5 the cord is severed and
clamped, the web is also severed so that the cutting jaws can be
removed while the clamp remains on the cord.
Prior art surgical instruments for clamping and severing an
umbilical cord have not gained widespread acceptance. Unfortu-
nately, the few seconds wasted by present procedures for severing
and clamping the umbilical cord may be the difference between a
routine birth or one complicated by serious lung problems in the
infant.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a novel
surgical instrument for clamping and severing an umbilical cord,
the parts of which are easily manufactured and assembled.
It is also ~n object of the invention to provide a novel
surgical instrument for clamping and severing an umbilical cord
that will simplify and speed up the operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel
surgical instrument for clamping and severing an umbilical cord
wherein the instrument applies a single umbilical cord clamp,
severs the umbilical cord, and maintains a hemostat on the mater-
nal end of the cord.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a
novel surgical instrument for clamping and severing an umbilical
cord wherein the umbilical cord clamp is detached from the
instrument without opening its clamping jaws.
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It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel
surgical instrument for clamping and severing an umbilical cord
which includes a single-use, disposable blade assembly
It is still another object o~ this invention to provide an
umbilical cord clamp which can be readily detached from the
umbilical cord portion attached to the infant without the need
for severing the clamp at its hinge portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicant's novel surgical instrument for clamping and
severing an umbilical cord provides many benefits such as hasten-
ing the availability of the newborn child for inspection to
reduce the risk of fetal aspiration. A major concern is meconium
(fetal bowel movement) aspiration leading to pulmonary complica-
tlons. Maternal blood and amniotic fluid aspiration are of a
lesser concern. It is believed that the known procedures requir-
ing 6-7 seconds for severing the cord could be reduced to 2-3
seconds with the present invention. Thus the infant's attendant
who is to perform direct tracheal suctioning,is provided with an
opportunity to suction the infant's air passages possibly before
the infant's first breath or, at least before its second breath,
to prevent material from reaching far into the bronchi.
Applicant's novel surgical instrument and the manner in
which it is used shall now be described. The surgical instrument
initially would be loaded with an umbilical cord clamp and a new
blade assembly. ~s the obstetrican delivers the baby, he would
cradle the baby in one arm while simultaneously picking up the
loaded instrument with the other arm. The upper and lower jaws
of the instrument would be placed in contact with the baby~s
umbilical cord adjacent its navel and a clamping action would be
performed. At the completion of the clamping stroke, the umbili-
cal cord clamp remains locked on the baby's umbilical cord adja-
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cent its navel while the remainder of the umbilical cord is
severed therefrom. Particular movemen of the surgical instru-
ment, as by hand, detaches the umbilical cord clamp from the
surgical instrumen~ ~ithout opening the instrument's clamping
ja~s, while the hemostat surfaces of the surgical instrument
maintain a tight clamping action on the maternal end of the
umbilical cord. After this clamping and severing procedure, the
baby would be handed to the infant's attendant for immediate,
direct trachael suctioning. Clamping by the hemostat surfaces on
the maternal end of the cord could then be released just long
enough to collect a blood specimen for a fetal thyroid screen
test. The hemostat surfaces would then b~ reclamped with the
redundant cord rolled about ~he instrument with gentle traction
applied to enhance the delivery of the placenta rom the mother.
Thus the surgical instrument of the present invention
replaces the two hemostats and scissors previously needed. Fur-
ther, since the instrument of the present invention requires only
one severence of the cord, the risk of innoculating exposed blood
vessels in the cord with infected amniotic fluid is reduced.
Finally, since the instrument in accordance with the present
invention provides means to sever and clamp the cord in very
close proximity to the infant, it obviates conventional proce-
dures requiring a scrub nurse to hand sterile scissors to an
often ungloved attendant to trim and clamp ~he redundant cord.
The use of gloves by an attendant is discouraged because they
make it difficult to catch the wet baby and to perform trachael
suctioning on the baby. The use of conventional procedures
expose the attendant's hands to blood from the severed cord while
performing such trimming and clamping. Obviating such conven-
tional procedures is now especially important in view of the
present threat of hepatitis and/or AIDS.
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Further in accordance with the present invention, a
generally V-shaped umbilical cord clamp assem~ly formed of a
~lexible material having a pair of arms preferably joined
together at an integral hinge and head portions including
releasably locking means at the free ends thereof. Such clamp
provided with a channel or opening extending generally diagonally
through at least one of the head portions, such channel com-
municating with the locking means in the head portion to release
such locking means when the arms are locked together in
clamping position. Said umbilical cord clamp appliable by
compressive force exerted by the jaws of a scissor-like
surgical instrument. In a preferred embodiment said clamp
releasably locking in the clamping position, whereby the
compressive force moves said arms toward each other whereupon
said locking means locks free ends together.
In this divisional specifiaation the present invention
provides a scissor-like surgical instrument including handle
portions and first and seoond closing jaw portions attached
thereto for simultaneouæly severing an umbilical oord,
compressing the placental end of the cord, and applying an
umbilical clamp about a section of the cord, said instrument
comprising: a~first hemostat surface unreleasably affixed to
said first jaw; a second hemostat surface unreleasably affixed to
said second jaw, æaid hemostat surfaces adapted to compress the
umbilical cord therebetween upon closure of said jaws and to
release the cord upon opening of said jawæ; cutting means
disposed upon one of sald ~aws for severing the umbiliaal cord
upon closure of said jaws; and coupling means on at least one of
said jaws for releasably coupling with corresponding coupling
means on the umbilicsl clamp.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a surgical instrument
for clamping and severing an umbilical cord in accordance with
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial side elevational view of the instru-
ment of Figure 1 with the blade assembly removed;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a blade assembly
. suitable for use with the surgical instrument of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of
an umbilical cord clamp in accordance with the p~esent invention;
Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the umbilical cord
clamp of Figure 4 in its closed position;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
Figure 4 illustrating the initial engagement of the lower clamp-
ing jaw of the instrument with the clamp;
Figure 6a is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
Figure 4 and illustrates the mating of the lower clamping jaw of
the instrument with the clamp once the upper and lower clamping
jaws have been closed;
Figure 7 is a bottom plan view taken along line 7-7 of
Figure 4;
Figure 8 is an end elevational view taken along line 8-8 of
Figure 2;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of
Figure 3;
Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the blade assembly
of Figure 3;
` Figure 11 is a partial front elevational view of the blade
assembly of Figure 3;
Figore 12 is an end elevational view taken along line 12-12
of Figure~2;
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: Figure 13 is a top plan view of the upper clamping jaw of
the instrument of Figure 1 with the ~op portion of the umbilical
cord clamp shown as loaded therein;
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the upper clamping
jaw of Figure 13 with the top arm of the umbilical cord clamp
shown as inserted therein;
Figure lS is a side elevational view of a first alternative
embodiment of an umbilical cord clamp in accordance wi~h the
present invention;
Figure 16 is a partial side elevational view of a first
alternative embodiment of a surgical instrument in accordance
with the present invention;
Figure 17 is a perspective view o a second alternative
embodiment o~ an umbilical cord clamp utilized with the instru-
ment illustrated in Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of a blade assembly utilized
with the instrument illustrated in Figure 16;
Figure 19 is a top plan view of the blade assembly illu-
strated in Figure 18;
Figure 20 is an elevational view taken along line 20-20 of
Figure 16;
Figure 21 i9 an elevational view taken along line 21-21 of
Figure 16;
Figure 22 is an exploded, perspective view showing a second
alternative embodiment of a surgical instrument including coupl-
ing means and a clamp having corresponding coupling means for
engaging the instrument in accordance with the present invention;
; Figure 23 is a ront sectional view of the jaws of the
instrument of Figure 22;
Figure 24 is a perspective view of a third alternative
embodiment of an umbilical cord clamp in accordance with the
present invention and
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Figure 25 is a perspective vie~J of a fourth alternative
embodiment of an umbilical cord clamp having rounded arms and
head portions and an opening therethrough in accordance with the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A first embodiment of a surgical instrument ror severing an
umbilical cord will be described with reerence to Figures 1-
19. The surgical instrument is generally designated by numeral
20. It has a pair of elongated handles 21 and 22 that are
pivoted with respect to each other around a pivot pin 24. An
upper clamping jaw 26 is formed on the free end of handle 22 and
a lower clamping jaw 27 is formed on the free end of handle 21.
Finger gripping members 28 and 29 are formed on the ends of
the respective handle members 21 and 22. The length of handles
21,22 in combination with finger gripping members 28,29 provides
sufficient leverage to sever the umbilical cord in a single
clamping motion. To lock jaws 26 and 27 in place, extensions 31
and 32 are provided. Extensions 31 and 32 have corresponding
buttress-teeth 35 and 36, which teeth mate to lock handles 21 and
22 in a particular position.
Surgical instrument 20 may be made of any suitable material,
but preferably would be made from stainless steel. A disposable
model, however, preferably would be made from a plastic material.
Removable blade assembly 40 is best illustrated in Figures
3, and 9-11. Blade assembly 40 has an elongated blade member 41
having a front surface 42, a rear surface 43, and a bo~tom
cutting edge 44. A support member 46 having a T-shaped cross-
sectional configuration is secured to the rear surface by means
such as rivets 48 shown in Figure 3. A finger gripping member 49
is formed on one end of support member 46 to aid in removing
blade assembly 40 from upper clamping jaw 26. Where surgical
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instrument 20 i5 of the disposable type, the blade assernbly may
be permanently secured to jaw 26 rather than being removable.
The manner in which blade assembly 40 is supported in upper
clamping jaw 26 is best understood by referring ~o Figures 2, 8
and 9. As shown in those figures, upper clamping jaw 26 has an
exterior wall surface 51, an interior wall surface 52, and an
upper hemostat surface 53. An open ended slot 55 has a T-cross-
sectional configuration that matingly receives T-shaped support
member 46 on the rear of blade 41. Alternatively, the blade
assembly may be supported by the lower clamping jaw in a manner
similar to that described above.
Umbilical cord clamp 60, ideally suited for use with surgi-
cal instrument 20, is illustrated in Figure 4. Clamp 60 has an
upper arm 61 having a front end 62 and a rear end 63. It also
has a lower arm 64 having a front end 65 and a rear end 66. Rear
ends 63 and 66 are connected together by integral hinge portion
68. Upper arm 61 also has teeth 70 on its lower surface and a
head portion 71. Lower arm 64 has teeth 73 on its top surface
and further includes an umbilical cord blocking member 74 and a
head portion 75. The manner in which head portion 71 of upper
arm 61 and head portion 75 of lower arm 64 clamp together is
illustrated in Figure 5. A tongue portion 77 is formed on head
portion 75 and it is clamped into groove 78 by resilient flanges
79 and 80 formed on the bottom of head portion 71.
Upper arm 61 and lower arm 64 have similar corresponding
structure for detachably securing or coupling them to the re~pec-
tive upper and Iower clamping jaws 26 and 27. Figures 6 and 6a
along with Figures 8 and 12 aid in understanding the detachable
securing or coupling of arms 61 and 64 with jaws 26 and 27. As
seen in Figure 8, upper clamping jaw 26 has a channel 84 formed
by interior wall surface 52. Upper arm 62 of umbilical clamp 60
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nests in channel 84 and attaches to upper jaw 26 by means of neck
member 86 and tongue portion 87 that extend into the mating
structure, discussed infra, on the top of head portion 71. This
mating relationship will be described with respect to the similar
mating or coupling structure included in lower clamping jaw 27,
as illustrated in Figures 6, 6a and 12.
As seen from Figure 12, lower clamping jaw 27 has an exter-
ior surface 90, an interior wall surface 91, and a lower hemostat
surface 92. A channel 94 is formed by interior wall surface
91. A neck member 96 extends upwardly from channel 94 and
includes a tongue portion 97 on its top end
Figure 6 illustrates the initial loaded position of lower
arm 64 of umbilical clamp 60 and its manner of attachment to
tongue portion 97 of lower clamping jaw 27~ Head portion 75 has
a primary groove 100 formed in its bottom surface which matingly
receives tongue 97 of lower clamping jaw 27. As the upper and
lower clamping jaws 26 and 27 are firmly clamped about the umbil-
ical cord, tongue 97 is driven into secondary groove 102. Since
the dimensions of secondary groove 102 are larger than those of
tongue 97, tongue 97 is freely movable within the constraints of
secondary groove 102. ~hus surgical instrument 20 may be pulled
away from umbilical cord clamp 60 once clamp 60 has been clamped
to the new born baby adjacent the navel area.
Fiqure 7 is a bottom plan view which further aids in under-
standing the configuration of primary and secondary grooves 100
and 102 in the bottom of head portion 75. Similar primary and
secondary grooves are found in the top surface of head portion 71
of upper arm 61. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate clamp 60 attached
to the upper clamping jaw 26.
While clamp 60 is securely coupled to both jaw 26 and 27 by
means of tongues and prlmary and secondary grooves as discussed,
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other coupling arrangements are possible, ~or e~ample,
only one of the opposing jaws and one of the upper and
lower arms need include the mating tonyue and yroove
means discussed u~. In such an embodiment, such
coupling means could be included on either the upper or
the lower jaws and such correspondiny coupliny means
could likewise be included on either the upper or the
lower arm.
A first alternative umbilical cord clamp 60a is
illustrated in Fiyure 15 and has longer primary and
secondary grooves shown in broken lines as extending
alony the respective upper and lower arms.
A modified suryical instrument 120 is illustrated in
Fiyure 16. Instrument 120 utilizes an umbilical cord
clamp 160 and a blade assembly 140, shown respectively in
Figures 17 and 18, and shown as assembled in the top plan
view of Figure 19. Cord clamp 160 has an upper arm 161
and a lower arm 164 connected by integral hinge portion
168. Head portion 171 has a groove 178 defined by
resilient flanges 179 and 180. Head portion 175 has a
similar tongue configuration 177 that matingly engages
groove 178 when upper and lower arms 161 and 164 are
clamped together about an umbilical cord.
In the embodiment of Figures 16-21, upper arm 161 of
clamp 160 has a protrusion 200 extending upwardly from
its top surface to be matingly received in a recess 201
formed in channel 184 of upper clamping jaw 126, as shown
in Figure 20. Likewise, the lower arm 142 of blade
assembly 140 has a protrusion 200 extendiny downwardly
that mates in recess 201 formed in channel 194 of lower
clamping jaw 127, as shown in Figure 21. Eliminated in
this version are the respective neck members and tongue
portions of the first embodiment of the instrument and
clamp of the invention.
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Blade assemDly 140 attaches to cord cIamp lbO by a pair of
pop beads 210 that mate in recesses 212 of the blade assembly.
In operation, clamp 160 and blade assemply 140 are snapped
together and then loaded into surgical instrument 120. ~he
action of closing clamping jaws 126 and 127 and thu~ severing the
umbilical cord will either cause blade 141 to ~urther sever pop
beads 210 from lower arm 164 or wedge blade 141 between assem-
blies 140 and 160 so tha~ beads 210 are pulled from engagement
with recesses 212. In either event, clamp 160 and blade assembly
140 become separa~2d when ~he cord clamp 160 is locked into en-
gagement around the umbilical cord. The surgical instrument then
can be removed by 6napping ~he protrusion 200 ou~ of recess 201.
Figure 22 shows ~n exploded view a third embodiment o~ a
surgical instrument 300 along with a ~lamp 302 ideally suited for
use with instrument 300, wherein different means for coupling the
clamp to the instrument are utilized. Instrument 300 likewise
includes scissor-like handles 304 and closing upper and lower
jaws 306, 308.
Upper jaw 306 includes a hemostat surface 310 and a blade
assembly 312. It ls to be understood that blade as~embly 312 ~ay
be either permanently or replaceably mounted on jaw 306. Upper
jaw 306 further includes longitudinally extending c~nformed slot
314. Lower jaw 308 likewise includes a hemostat surface 316, an
anvil section 318 prov~ding a ~olid cutting ~urface for blade
312, and ~ouplin~ means 320. As seen from Figures 22 and 23,
coupling means 320 generally comprises longitudinally extending
slot 322 ha~ing ~n enlarged forward section 324. Opposlng
flanges 326 extend horizon~ally inwardly from t~e ~de walls of
forward ~ection 324.
As shown i601ated from contact with instrument 300 in Figure
~2, clamp 302 is of ehe V-shaped ~ype generally having spac~d
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apart upper and lower arms 328 and 330 which are joined together
at one end by flexible hinge portion 332. Head portions 334 and
336 are respectively integrally joined with arms 328 and 330 at
the free ends thereof. Clamp 302 is also provided with blocking
member 331 which prevents the umbilical cord from entering the
open area defined by the hinge portion 332.
Lower arm head portion 336 includes corresponding coupling
means generally indicated by reference numeral 33~. In particu-
lar, corresponding coupling means 338 includes a pair of longi-
tudinal, spaced-apart ridges 340 on each side of head portion
336, to define a groove 342 therebetween.
Thus instrument 300 is adapted to slidably receive clamp 302
by sliding lower arm 330 rearwardly into slot 322 of lower jaw
308. As lower ~aw 308 engages hinge 332 and lower arm 330, coup-
ling means 320 interlocks with corresponding coupling means 338
as grooves 342 receive flanges 326. Slot 314 is configured to
receive upper arm 328 and head portiorl 334 therein whén clamp 302
is loaded into instrument 300. When so interlocked, coupling
means 32Q and corresponding coupling means 338 provide for suffi-
ciently tight engagement therebetween to prevent clamp 302 from
falling from instrument 300 when in use. However, means 320 and
338 do not engage so forceably as to inhibit free release of
clamp 302 from instrument 300 by rearward movement of the instru-
ment once clamping about the umbiIical cord has been
accomplished.: :
It will be appreciated that the coupling means above
described with respect to the lower jaw of the instrument and the
lower clamp could just as readily be placed on the upper jaw of
; the instrument and upper arm of the clamp, or even on both jaws
and both arms, as desired.
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It will be appreciated that the outer surfaces of at least
one head portion of the clamp can be made of the same dimensions
as the cavity 326 of the jaw shown in Figure 22 and a horizontal
groove can be formed on each side of the clamp head portion to
snugly engage opposing flanges or ribs 326 so as to hold the
clamp 302 with the instrument until the clamping procedure is
completed, which procedure includes the simultaneous severing of
the umbilical cord and the compressing of the placental end of
the cord by the hemostate surfaces of the instrument. This
modification obviates the need for forming the spaced-apart
ridges 340 to define the grooves or indents since such grooves
can be formed within the sides of the head portions of the
clamps.
In still another embodiment of the clamp illustrated in
Figure 22 slot 322 which extends to the front of the instrument
300 is made deeper. Lower arm head portion 336 is provided with
grooves 342 on either side thereof which initially engage ridges
326 and is further provided with a slightly larger groove formed
parallel to and slightly above each of grooves 342. When the
clamp 302 is placed within the instrument 300 so that grooves 342
engage ridges 326, the base of head portion 336 is spaced from
the bottom of slot 322. Upon tigh~ closure of the clamp whereby
tongue 344 engages and is locked into the upper arm head portion
and is held by the flanges 348, the lower arm head portion is
forced downwardly into slot 322 as grooves 342 are forced past
ridges 326, Ridges 326 now~exte~d into the larger parallel
grooves (not shown) directly above grooves 342. Because the
ridges more loosely fit into the larger grooves, the locked clamp
is more easily withdrawn f,rom the instrument.
Alternative locking means for locking the upper and lower
heads of the clamp when it is clamped about the umbilical cord
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are also shown in Figure 22. These include tonyue 344 integral
with and extending ~pwardly from the end o~ head portion 336 and
adapted to snap into recess 346 ~ormed by resilient flanges 348
in head portion 334, which flanges spread outwardly a sufficient
distance to permit tongue 344 to enter recess 346 before return-
ing ~o their normal position. Of course, the tongue can be pro
vided on the upper head and the recess on the lower head of the
clamp, if desired.
Clamping and severing instrument 300 can be further modified
by making hemostat surfaces 310, 316 smooth instead of serrated
and fastening a semi~rigid flexible plastic strip over each of
such flat surfaces, such strip surfaces having the configuration
of a hemostat surface, such as serration. If desired, the strip
fastened to the smooth upper hemosta~ surface in the upper jaw of
the ins~rument, whose hemostat surface 310 is now shown in Figure
22, could have a thlckness of the height of the exposed blade 315
and thus simultaneously act as a guard to the blade.
Alternatively, such flexible plastic hemostat strips could be
secured at their ends to the instrument above the smooth surfaces
(where surfaces 310 and 316 now appear) and have their body
portions spaced slightly above such surfaces. In this manner,
the flexible plastic strips provide a variable compliance for
thick versus thin umbilical cords being severed and clamped at
the placental end of the cord. The l'give" of the flexible
plastic strips as they are compressed about the umbilical cord
would depend on tbe size of the cord. The flexible plastic strip
on the upper clamping jaw of the instrument spaced from smooth
surface 310 would also act as a guard for the blade 315. Such
plastic strips could be on either or both clamping jaws of the
instrument to form one or a pair of hemostat surfaces. If on one
surface of the in~trument, then the other clamping jaw of the
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instru~ent would be p~ovided with hem~stat surfaces 310 ~r 316,
as shown in Fig~re 22.
When it is time to remove the clamp from that portion of the
umbilical cord attached to the infant, the most com~on procedure
is to sever the clip at the hinge portion 68, 168, 332 since it
is extremely difficult to separate the head portions of the clamp
after they have been closed and locked. This means that clippers
must always be available in order to sever the clamp at the hinge
and remove it from the infant.
As illustrated in Figure 22, the head 334 on the upper arm
328 is provided with an opening 350 extending from the upper
s~rface of the head and communicating with the recess or cavity
346. When clamp 302 is locked and tongue 314 is disposed within
recess 346, the tongue deflnes an axis, and, opening 350 and
thus the walls 351 thereof are inclined with respect to the
axis of the ton~ue. Tongue 314 is prevented from being with-
drawn by the presence of flanges 348. A thin rigid rod or probe
is inserted through the opening 3~0 to push against the tongue
314 in recess 346 and force the flexible tongue out of recess
346, thus disengaging the locking mechanism and separating
the heads 334, 336 due to the inherent spring resiliency in
the plastic structure of flexible hinge 332. The clamp is then
easily removable ~rom the umbilical cord.
Figure 24 illustrates a modified embodiment of the clamp of
Figure 22. ~ead portion 334 defines the recess or cavity 346
therein b~t instead of the pair of flanges 348 which lock ~he
tonque within the recess, as shown in Figure 22, the undersurface
352 of the head 334 is provided with a narrow neck portion 354
adapted to engage the neck portion 356 of flexible tongue 344
formed by notches 358. A pair of projections 360 (only one
shown) extend vertically within recess 346. When the clamp of
Figure 24 is closed, flexible tongue 344 enters cavity 346 with
the neck 356 of the tongue disposed within neck portion 354 and
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the tongue is held within the cavity behind the pair o~ projec
tions 3S0. To unl~ck the clamp, a probe, ~hown generally ~y
instrument 362, having a narrow tip portion 364, may be extended
into recess 350 to rele~se tongue 344 by pushing tonyue 344 and
thus notches 358 outwardly away from engagement with projections
360 in opening 346. Once tongue 344 is pushed aw~y fzom contact
with projections 360 by instr~ment 362, clamp 302 pOp5 open due
to the inherent spring resiliency in the plastic structure of
flexible hinge 322.
It will be apparent that the opening 350 m~y be o~ suffi-
cient diameter to admit any of a wide variety of medical inRtru-
ments which are at hand or available to the nurse or doctor at
the time the clamp is to be removed from the portion o~ the
umbilical cord still attached to the infant. The walls 351 of
the opening likewise could have varying degrees of curvature
for admitting instruments having an accurate shape. The clamps
according to the pres~nt inventio~ have an opening such as exemplary
opening 350 in at least ~ne of the arms thereof; either of the arms
can have such an opening in their head portions.
Figure 25 shows ~tlll another embodiment of an umbilical
clamp 500 in ~ccordance ~ith the present invention. Clamp 500 is
alsc o the V-shaped v~ri~ty and has rounded arms 502, 504 ~nd
round~d head portions 506 and 508. The ~urved or rounded confi-
guration of clamp 500 ensures against abrading or cutting of the
infant's skin af~er the clamp has been att3ched adjacent the
infant's navel area~
Clamp 500 l~ewise lncludes an opening or channel 510 for
pelmitting facilitated release of the arms of the cla~p. Channel
510 opens ~t the top of rounded head portion 506 ~nd has walls
extending diagonally therethrough to communicate with a locking
device 512 compri6ing recess 514 and tongue 516. Tongue 516
engages within recess 514 in any manner now well understood by
those skilled in the ~rt. Thus, upon closure o~ clamp 500, a similar
probe (not shown) ~ay be extended through channel 510 into recess
514 t~
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disengage tongue 516 and thereby release clamp 500. Preferably,
clamp 500 also includes corresponding coupling means ~not sho~n)
making clamp 500 suitable for use with an instxumen~ of the type
illustrated in Figure 1.
It will. also be appreciated that clamp 500 can be provided
with groove 518 on either side of bottom head portion 508 for
engaging the corresponding ridges 326 on instrument 300
illustrated in Figure 22. ~s explained above, if slot 322 which
extends to the front of the instrument 300 is made sufficiently
deep then when clamp 500 is inserted therein, ridges 326 will
ride in grooves 518 and the bottom of the clamp will be spaced
above the bottom of the slot. By applying closing pressure on
the clamp by the instrument tongue 516 will enter recess 514 and
be locked therein while simultaneously applying sufficient
pressure to the bottom clamp head 508 ~o force the ridges 326
upwardly out of the groove 518 and into either a larger groove
(not shown) directly above and parallel to each of grooves 518,
or into the space above the groove 518 and its laterally
extending ledge or ridge portion 520, so as to more readily
facilitate removal of the closed clamp from the instrument 300.
~ lthough the present invention has been described with
reference to pre~erred embodiments, other modifications and
arrangements could be made within the scope of the disclosed
invention.
.
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