Clamps and methods for displacing fluid from portions of fluid containers

Abstract

Clamps and methods are disclosed for clamping portions of fluid containers and displacing fluid from portions of fluid containers. In one embodiment, a clamp has a first jaw having a photopermeable main body portion and a second jaw. The first and second jaws are operatively associated so that at least one jaw, or both jaws, may be moved between clamped and released positions. The clamp is sized to receive a portion of a fluid container and displace fluid in the fluid container from a clamped region of the fluid container when the first and/or second jaw(s) are in the clamped position. The photopermeable main body portion(s) of the first and/or second jaw(s) allow some light to reach the clamped region of the fluid container during photoradiation to inactivate pathogens in the fluid. Various clamp embodiments and assemblies having lock members and interlocks are also disclosed herein.

1 . A clamp, comprising: 
 a first jaw comprising a photopermeable main body portion; and    a second jaw operatively associated with the first jaw so that at least one of the first and second jaws can be moved between a clamped position and a released position, the clamp being sized to receive a portion of a fluid container, the clamp displacing fluid in the fluid container from a clamped region of the fluid container when the first and second jaws are in the clamped position, the photopermeable main body portion of the first jaw allowing some wavelengths of light to reach the clamped region of the fluid container.    
     
     
         2 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the second jaw comprises a photopermeable main body portion.  
     
     
         3 . The clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the photopermeable main body portions of the first and second jaws comprise quartz.  
     
     
         4 . The clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock member mounted to the second jaw so that the lock member can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock member engaging the first jaw and holding the first and second jaws in the clamped position when the lock member is in the locked position.  
     
     
         5 . The clamp of  claim 4 , further comprising an interlock operatively associated with the lock member, the interlock preventing the lock member from remaining in the locked position unless the fluid container is positioned between the first and second jaws.  
     
     
         6 . The clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the interlock further comprises a spring, the spring biasing the lock member toward the unlocked position when the fluid container is not positioned between the first and second jaws.  
     
     
         7 . The clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the lock member defines a slot having a crest therein and wherein the first jaw comprises a pin sized to be received by the slot in the lock member, the slot in the lock member engaging the pin on the first jaw as the lock member is moved toward the locked position, and wherein the crest in the slot retains the lock member in the locked position when the fluid container is positioned between the first and second jaws.  
     
     
         8 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws are pivotally connected together along a pivot axis.  
     
     
         9 . The clamp of  claim 8 , further comprising a lock member mounted to the first jaw so that the lock member can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock member engaging the second jaw as the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lock member drawing the first and second jaws together toward the clamped position as the lock member is moved toward the locked position.  
     
     
         10 . The clamp of  claim 8 , further comprising a lock member mounted to the first jaw so that the lock member can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock member engaging the second jaw as the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lock member drawing the second jaw toward the first jaw as the lock member is moved toward the locked position.  
     
     
         11 . The clamp of  claim 10 , wherein the lock member defines a slot therein and wherein the second jaw comprises a pin sized to be received by the slot in the lock member, the slot in the lock member engaging the pin on the second jaw as the lock member is moved toward the locked position.  
     
     
         12 . The clamp of  claim 8 , further comprising a lock member having a slot therein, wherein the lock member is mounted for rotation about a pivot axis so that the lock member can be pivoted between a locked position and an unlocked position, the slot in the lock member engaging a pin on the second jaw as the lock member is pivoted from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lock member drawing the second jaw toward the first jaw and toward the clamped position as the lock member is pivoted toward the locked position.  
     
     
         13 . The clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the slot comprises an arcuate slot curved so that the engagement of the pin in the arcuate slot draws the second jaw closer to the first jaw as the lock member pivots toward the locked position; wherein the arcuate slot has a generally circular curvature having a center of curvature that is displaced from the pivot axis.  
     
     
         14 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw comprises a frame, the frame sized to receive the photopermeable main body portion.  
     
     
         15 . The clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for sensing when at least one of the first and second jaws are in the clamped position.  
     
     
         16 . A clamp, comprising: 
 a first jaw, the first jaw comprising: 
 a frame, the frame of the first jaw defining an opening therein; and  
 a photopermeable main body portion sized to be received by the opening defined by the frame of the first jaw;  
   a second jaw, the second jaw comprising: 
 a frame, the frame of the second jaw defining an opening therein; and  
 a photopermeable main body portion sized to be received by the opening defined by the frame of the second jaw;  
   the frames of the first and second jaws being pivotally connected together so that at least one of the first and second jaws can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a clamped position and a released position; and    a lock member operatively associated with the frames of the first and second jaws so that the lock member can be moved between an unlocked position and a locked position, the lock member engaging the first jaw as the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lock member drawing the first jaw toward the second jaw and toward the clamped position as the lock member is moved toward the locked position.    
     
     
         17 . The clamp of  claim 16 , further comprising an interlock operatively associated with the lock member, the interlock allowing the lock member to remain in the locked position and retaining the first and second jaws in the clamped position when a fluid container is positioned between the first and second jaws.  
     
     
         18 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the photopermeable main body portions of the first and second jaws comprise quartz.  
     
     
         19 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the lock member defines a slot therein and wherein the first jaw comprises a pin sized to be received by the slot in the lock member, the slot engaging the pin on the first jaw as the lock member is pivoted toward the locked position.  
     
     
         20 . The clamp of  claim 19 , wherein the slot further comprises an arcuate slot curved so that the engagement of the pin in the arcuate slot draws the first jaw closer to the second jaw as the lock member pivots toward the locked position; wherein the arcuate slot has a generally circular curvature having a center of curvature that is displaced from a pivot axis.  
     
     
         21 . The clamp of  claim 16 , further comprising a sensor for sensing when at least one of the first and second jaws are in the clamped position.  
     
     
         22 . A clamp, comprising: 
 a first jaw having a photopermeable main body portion;    a second jaw; and    a means for moving at least one of the first and second jaws between a clamped position and a released position, wherein the means is operatively associated with at least one of the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws applying a clamping force to a portion of an object positioned between the first and second jaws when the first and second jaws are in the clamped position, the photopermeable main body portion of the first jaw allowing some wavelengths of light to reach the object positioned between the first and second jaws when the first and second jaws are in the clamped position.    
     
     
         23 . A clamp assembly, comprising: 
 a fluid container containing a fluid;    a first jaw having a photopermeable main body portion; and    a second jaw operatively associated with the first jaw so that at least one of the first and second jaws can be moved between a clamped position and a released position, a portion of the fluid container being positioned between the first and second jaws, at least one of the first and second jaws applying a clamping force to the portion of the fluid container to displace fluid from a clamped region of the fluid container, the photopermeable main body portion of the first jaw allowing some light to reach the clamped region of the fluid container.    
     
     
         24 . The clamp assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the fluid container comprises a main body portion and an inlet port path for flowing fluid into the fluid container; wherein the inlet port path is positioned between the first and second jaws such that at least one of the first and second jaws applies a clamping force to the inlet port path to displace some fluid from the inlet port path to the main body portion of the fluid container.  
     
     
         25 . The clamp assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a lock member operatively associated with the first and second jaws so that the lock member can be moved between an unlocked position and a locked position, the lock member engaging the first jaw as the lock member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, the lock member drawing the first jaw toward the second jaw and toward the clamped position as the lock member is moved toward the locked position.  
     
     
         26 . A method, comprising: 
 positioning a portion of a fluid container containing a fluid between a first jaw comprising a photopermeable main body portion and a second jaw;    moving at least one of the first and second jaws together to displace fluid from a clamped region of the fluid container; and    illuminating at least the clamped region of the fluid container with light, the light passing through the photopermeable main body portion of the first jaw to reach the clamped region of the fluid container.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein positioning the portion of the fluid container between the first jaw and the second jaw comprises positioning a port path of the fluid container between the first jaw and the second jaw.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein illuminating at least the clamped region of the fluid container comprises illuminating with ultraviolet light.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein moving at least one of the first and second jaws together further comprises moving a lock member, operatively associated with the first and second jaws, to draw the first jaw toward the second jaw.  
     
     
         30 . A method, comprising: 
 positioning a portion of a fluid container containing a fluid adjacent to a photopermeable main body portion of a displacement device;    using the displacement device to apply a displacing force to a portion of the fluid container to displace some quantity of fluid from the portion of the fluid container; and    illuminating at least the portion of the fluid container with light, the light passing through the photopermeable main body portion of the displacement device.