Apparatus and methods for support of a membrane filter in a medical infusion system

Abstract

A removable clamp, for supporting a membrane filter in a medical infusion system, includes connected and opposing walls. A locking feature, which may be connected to an end of one of the walls, engages and disengages a terminal end of the other wall. The filter may be inserted between the opposing walls of the clamp, and an inner surface of each of the opposing walls may be secured against corresponding major surfaces of the inserted filter, by only pressing at least one of the opposing walls of the clamp toward the other of the opposing walls.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A removable clamp comprising:
 a first support wall extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;   a first sidewall extending substantially orthogonally from the first end of the first support wall, the first sidewall including a locking feature that extends substantially parallel to the first support wall and includes a terminal end that projects towards the first support wall;   a second sidewall extending substantially orthogonally from the second end of the first support wall; and   a second support wall extending from the second sidewall in a direction substantially parallel to the first support wall, the second support wall defining a terminal portion extending away from the first support wall that is configured to engage with the terminal end of the locking feature of the first sidewall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, wherein the first support wall includes a first plateau projecting toward the second support wall and the second support wall includes a second plateau projecting toward the first support wall, and   wherein, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, the first plateau defines a first planar mating surface parallel to both the first support wall and the second support wall, and the second plateau defines a second planar mating surface parallel to both the first support wall and the second support wall.   
     
     
         22 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein, in combination, the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall define a rectangular-shaped cavity configured to receive a housing of a membrane filter. 
     
     
         23 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the first plateau is positioned between the first end and the second end of the first support wall and the second plateau is positioned between the second sidewall from which the second support wall extends and the terminal portion defined by the second support wall so that, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, a distance between the first support wall and the second support wall is greater adjacent the first sidewall and the second sidewall than between the first sidewall and the second sidewall where the first plateau and the second plateau are positioned. 
     
     
         24 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein, when the terminal end of the first sidewall is engaged with the terminal portion of the second support wall so as to interlock the second support wall with the first sidewall, the first planar mating surface is separated from the second planar mating surface by a constant distance across a width of the first plateau and a width of the second plateau. 
     
     
         25 . The removable clamp of  claim 24 , wherein the constant distance ranges from approximately 0.351 inches to approximately 0.354 inches. 
     
     
         26 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the second support wall further comprises a strengthening feature extending outwardly away from the first support wall. 
     
     
         27 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the first support wall, the second support wall, and the locking feature are integrally formed. 
     
     
         28 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall are integrally formed. 
     
     
         29 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the first support wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second support wall are each formed from plastic. 
     
     
         30 . The removable clamp of  claim 30 , wherein the plastic comprises a polycarbonate resin. 
     
     
         31 . The removable clamp of  claim 21 , wherein the second support wall is fixedly and flexibly connected to the second support wall so as to allow the terminal portion of the second support wall to move toward and away from the first support wall.