Clamp and blood bag system

Abstract

A blood bag system includes a clamp installed in a flexible first tube. The clamp includes: a base section having a protrusion section, an opening/closing section having a pressing protrusion section that presses a side surface of the first tube, and a bent section that connects the base section and opening/closing section. The base section is provided with a pair of cutout sections opened to a side surface where the first tube can be inserted by interposing the protrusion section. The clamp is configured such that a portion of the first tube where the clamp is installed is bent while the clamp is released.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clamp positionable along a length of a flexible tube to close a flow path of the flexible tube when the clamp is in a closed position and to open the flow path of the flexible tube when the clamp is in a released position, comprising:
 a base section possessing a bottom surface and an inner surface facing in opposite directions, the base section also possessing side surfaces which intersect and extend away from the bottom surface, the base section including a first protrusion projecting away from the inner surface to make contact with a side surface of the tube when the clamp is mounted on the tube;   an opening/closing section positioned in spaced apart and opposing relation to the base section so that a space exists between the opening/closing section and the base section, the opening/closing section including a second protrusion that projects toward the inner surface of the base section, the second protrusion being positioned to make contact with the flexible tube without closing the flow path of the tube when the clamp is in the released position and to make contact with the flexible tube and press the flexible tube toward the first protrusion to close off the flow path in the flexible tube when the clamp is in the closed position;   an intermediate section connecting the base section and the opening/closing section in a manner permitting the opening/closing section to move toward the base section when the clamp is in the released position;   the base section including first and second cutout sections through which the tube passes when the clamp is mounted on the tube, the first protrusion being positioned between the first and second cutout sections so that the first cutout section, the first protrusion and the second cutout section are arranged in such order in an arrangement direction which is perpendicular to the side surfaces of the base section;   each of the cutout sections opening to a common one of the side surfaces of the base section; and   the first protrusion and the first and second cutout sections being configured such that a portion of the tube passing through the clamp when the clamp is positioned along the tube is bent when the clamp is in the released position.   
     
     
         2 . The clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cutout is at one end of the base section in the arrangement direction and the second cutout is at an opposite end of the base section in the arrangement direction. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the base section includes an other protrusion spaced from the first protrusion in the arrangement direction and projecting toward the opening/closing section to make contact with the flexible tube without closing the flow path of the tube when the clamp is in the released position. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp according to  claim 3 , wherein the second protrusion is positioned between the first protrusion and the other protrusion in the arrangement direction. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking section connected to one end of the base section, the locking section including a claw that engages a claw on the opening/closing section to position the clamp in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . A clamp that closes a flow path of a flexible tube when the clamp is in a closed position and opens the flow path of the flexible tube when the clamp is in a released position, comprising:
 a base section having a first protrusion section that makes contact with a side surface of the tube;   an opening/closing section having a second protrusion section that closes the flow path of the tube by pressing the side surface of the tube toward the first protrusion section;   an intermediate section connecting the base section and the opening/closing section;   the base section including a pair of cutout sections through which the tube is to pass, the first protrusion section being interposed between the pair of cutout sections;   each of the cutout sections opening to a side surface located perpendicularly to an arrangement direction in which the pair of cutout sections are arranged; and   the first protrusion section and the pair of cutout sections being configured such that a portion of the tube passing through the clamp when the clamp is installed on the tube is bent when the clamp is in the released position.   
     
     
         7 . The clamp according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the cutout sections comprises:
 a holding hole that holds the tube, each of the holding holes penetrating an outer surface and an inner surface of the base section; and   a holding surface is located in an opening/closing section side of the holding hole of at least one of the cutout sections, the holding surface being located in a bottom surface side of the base section relative to a position displaced from a leading end of the first protrusion section toward the opening/closing section side by an outer diameter length of the tube.   
     
     
         8 . The clamp according to  claim 7 , wherein the holding surface of at least one of the cutout sections is located in on a side of the second protrusion section relative to the first protrusion section. 
     
     
         9 . The clamp according to  claim 7 , wherein the holding surface of at least one of the cutout sections is inclined toward an opening/closing section side along the inner surface of the base section. 
     
     
         10 . The clamp according to  claim 6 , wherein the base section is provided with a third protrusion section which is located between the one cutout section and the first protrusion section and which makes contact with a side surface of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The clamp according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the cutout sections is possesses a substantially L-shape as seen in a plan view and opens to a bottom surface of the base section. 
     
     
         12 . A blood bag system comprising:
 a plurality of bags each configured to contain whole blood or a blood component;   at least one tube connecting the plurality of bags; and   the clamp according to  claim 6 , installed along the tube.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 mounting a clamp on a flexible tube which possesses one end connected to a first bag and an opposite end connected to a second bag, the first and second bags each possessing an interior that receives blood or a blood component, the clamp comprising: a base section possessing a bottom surface and a side surface intersecting the bottom surface, the base section including a projecting first protrusion; an opening/closing section positioned in opposing spaced apart relation to the base section so that a space exists between the opening/closing section and the base section, the opening/closing section including a projecting second protrusion that projects toward the base section, the first protrusion projecting towards the opening/closing section; an intermediate section connecting the base section and the opening/closing section in a manner permitting the opening/closing section to move toward the base section; the base section including first and second cutout sections, with the first protrusion positioned between the first and second cutout sections; each of the cutout sections opening to the side surface of the base section by way of respective lateral through-holes; and   the clamp being mounted on the tube at a position between the first bag connected to the one end of the tube and the second bag connected to the other end of the tube by passing a portion of the tube through the lateral through-holes in the side surface and introducing the portion of the tube into the space between the base section and the opening/closing section.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the tube is introduced into the space such that the first and second protrusions both contact the tube, the first and second protrusions contacting the outer surface of the tube while a flow path through the tube remains open. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the clamp further comprises a locking section connected to one end of the base section, the method further comprising pushing the opening/closing section toward the base section to cause a claw on the opening/closing section to engage a claw on the locking section so that the clamp is in a closed position in which flow through a flow path in the tube is closed by virtue of the second protrusion pressing against the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the tube positioned in the space is bent at an angle equal to or greater than 110° and equal to or less than 150°. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the clamp further comprises a locking section connected to one end of the base section, the method further comprising pushing the opening/closing section toward the base section to cause a claw on the opening/closing section to engage a claw on the locking section so that the clamp is in a closed position in which flow through a flow path in the tube is closed by virtue of the second protrusion pressing against the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first cutout section includes a first holding hole penetrating an inner surface and an outer surface of the base section at one end side of the base section, the second cutout section including a second holding hole penetrating the inner surface and the outer surface of the base section at an other end side of the base section, portions of the tube being held in the first and second holding holes. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the tube located inside the clamp between the first and second holding holes being bent at an angle equal to or greater than 110° and equal to or less than 150°.