Integrated blood donor tube stripper and crimping apparatus

Abstract

A pair of gripping frame e hingedly connected together at one end thereof. Cooperating rollers are rotatably coupled to the gripping members adjacent the hinge therebetween. The rollers are positioned adjacent one another whereby a uniform space is created between the parallel, aligned surfaces of the rollers which are adapted to receive flexible fluid-filled tubing connected to a blood donor bag. When the gripping frame members are positioned adjacent one another, the aligned surfaces of the rollers will fully compress the surfaces of the tubing. Opposed crimping heads coupled to the gripping frame members are adapted to crush a securing clip disposed about the tubing thereby sealing the fluid-filled tubing when the heads are positioned adjacent one another.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same comprising:
 (a) first and second linear gripping members being pivotally coupled at one end thereof;   (b) first and second stripping rollers, each having a uniform cylindrical surface and tubing guides being secured to the opposed ends of the cylindrical surface of said first and second stripping rollers in axial alignment with the axis thereof, said first and second stripping rollers being rotatably coupled to said first and second gripping members respectively, whereby the cylindrical surfaces of said stripping rollers are adapted to define a uniform gap therebetween for receipt of the plastic tubing when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another;   (c) a first crimping head secured to said first gripping member in alignment with the axis of said first stripping roller incorporating a first stamping surface extending downwardly from said first crimping head and being aligned in parallel spaced relation to the axis of the pivotal coupling between said first and second gripping members; and   (d) a second crimping head secured to said second gripping member in alignment with the axis of said second stripping roller incorporating a second stamping surface extending upwardly from said second crimping head and aligned in parallel spaced relation to the pivotal coupling between said first and second gripping members, said second stamping surface being adapted to be positioned adjacent said first stripping surface when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 1  including a first alignment flange having an alignment surface depending downwardly from said first gripping member and a second alignment flange having an alignment surface extending upwardly from said second gripping member, the alignment surface of said second alignment flange being adapted to slidably engage the alignment surface of said first alignment flange when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 2  wherein the alignment surfaces of said first and second alignment flanges are coplanar with the plane of said coupled first and second gripping members. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 1  wherein the pivotal coupling between said first and second linear gripping members include resilient means for resiliently opposing the rotation of said first and second gripping members toward one another. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first and second stamping surfaces of said first and second crimping heads each include opposed depressions adapted to receive a sealing member therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical surfaces of said first and second stripping rollers are in parallel spaced relation when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 6  wherein the tubing guides of each of said first and second stripping rollers are in parallel spaced relation to each other and are coplanar with the tubing guides of the opposed stripping roller. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same comprising:
 (a) first and second linear gripping members;   (b) means for resiliently and pivotally coupling an end of each of said first and second gripping members to one another to resiliently oppose the rotation of said first and second gripping members toward one another;   (c) first and second stripping rollers, each having a uniform cylindrical surface and tubing guides being secured to the opposed ends of the cylindrical surface of said first and second stripping rollers in axial alignment with the axis thereof, said first and second stripping rollers being rotatably coupled to said first and second gripping members respectively, whereby the cylindrical surfaces of said stripping rollers are adapted to define a uniform gap therebetween for receipt of the plastic tubing when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another;   (d) a first crimping head secured to said first gripping member in alignment with the axis of said first stripping roller incorporating a first stamping surface extending downwardly from said first crimping head and being aligned in parallel spaced relation to the axis of the pivotal coupling between said first and second gripping members;   (e) a second crimping head secured to said second gripping member in alignment with the axis of said second stripping roller incorporating a second stamping surface extending upwardly from said second crimping head and aligned in parallel spaced relation to the pivotal coupling between said first and second gripping members, said second stamping surface being adapted to be positioned adjacent said first stripping surface when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another, the first and second stamping surfaces of said first and second crimping heads each including opposed depressions adapted to receive a tube sealing member therebetween;   (f) a first alignment flange having an alignment surface depending downwardly from said first gripping member; and   (g) a second alignment flange having an alignment surface extending upwardly from said second gripping member, the alignment surface of said second alignment flange being adapted to slidably engage the alignment surface of said first alignment flange when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 8  wherein the alignment surfaces of said first and second alignment flanges are coplanar with the plane of said coupled first and second gripping members. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 8  wherein the cylindrical surfaces of said first and second stripping rollers are in parallel spaced relation when said first and second gripping members are pivotally rotated adjacent one another. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for stripping fluid from fluid-filled tubing and sealing same as defined in  claim 8  wherein the tubing guides of each of said first and second stripping rollers are in parallel spaced relation to each other and are coplanar with the tubing guides of the opposed stripping roller.