Barb clamp with smooth bore

Abstract

In the improved barb clamp 110 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the barb fitting 112, 212 has an engineered bore size that has the same cross-sectional area as the bore 100 of the tubing 14. When the improved barb fitting 112, 212 are installed into a tube 14, there is no transition between the inner diameter of the tubing 14 and the inner diameter of the fitting 112. As a result, there is no pressure differential on the tubing or in the fluid from outside to inside of the barb clamp 110. Maintaining a constant pressure or a constant velocity of fluid throughout the system may be imperative in certain medical applications. To accomplish this, the free end 150 of the barb fitting 112, 212 are gradually tapered to a sharp point 152. The sharp point 152 on the free end 150 of the barb fitting 112 also allows for easy insertion of the barb fitting 112 into the tube 14. As a result of this configuration, liquid material can never get between the barb fitting 112, or 212, and the tube 14.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barbed fitting for insertion into a flexible tube having a predetermined inner diameter, the barbed fitting comprising:
 a nonmetal elongated body portion having a tubular configuration and a smooth inner bore with a constant diameter therethrough; and   a nonmetal end portion for disposing within an end of the flexible tube, the end portion integrally connected to the elongated body portion, wherein the smooth inner bore continuously extends through the end portion, the end portion tapering to a sharp termination point.   
     
     
         2 . The barbed fitting of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a nonmetal flange portion spaced from the end portion and integrally connected to the elongated body portion, the flange portion defining a stop for the flexible tube.   
     
     
         3 . The barbed fitting of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the elongated body portion and the end portion is made of a material having antimicrobial additives. 
     
     
         4 . The barbed fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the smooth inner bore is essentially equal to the inner diameter of the flexible tube. 
     
     
         5 . A barb clamp for a flexible tube having a predetermined inner diameter defining a fluid passageway therein and an outer surface, the clamp comprising:
 a barb connector having a tubular configuration with a first end for disposing within an end of the flexible tube and a sharp edge terminating the first end, the barb connector having a smooth inner bore;   a collet slidable over the first end of the barb connector and the outer surface of the flexible tube; and   a cylindrical sleeve having a through center aperture for slidably receiving the a collet.   
     
     
         6 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the barb connector is made of a nonmetal material. 
     
     
         7 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the collet has a first end forming a discontinuous annular ring and a second end forming a plurality of resilient tangs for contracting around the barb connector and flexible tube for providing a tight seal when received by the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The barb clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the collet and sleeve have a locking ring configuration for preventing fluid material from seeping between the barb connector and the flexible tube. 
     
     
         9 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein an outer surface of the collet has an annular groove and an inner surface of the sleeve has an annular projection for disposition within the annular groove for forming a lock. 
     
     
         10 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end, wherein the interior surface of the sleeve is slightly outwardly tapered at the first end. 
     
     
         11 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the collet has a smooth interior surface with a radial shelf extending therein for forming a radial 360° compression around the flexible tube. 
     
     
         12 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the barb connector, collet and sleeve is made of a material having antimicrobial additives. 
     
     
         13 . The barb clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the first end of the barb connector includes an outer ramp surface extending continuously radially inward from an outer edge of the of the barb connector to the sharp edge. 
     
     
         14 . The barb clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the barb connector includes an inner surface extending continuously therethrough, the inner surface meeting the outer ramp surface at the sharp edge.