Umbilical cord clamp

Claim 2

A clamp for closing an umbilical cord stump on a newborn infant and for securing the clamp to the stump to prevent longitudinal or lateral motions of the clamp on the stump comprising: a pair of substantially straight first and second members, spring means connected with first ends of the members and biasing the members into a mutually inclined position, lock means on one of said members for retaining the members against the force of the spring means substantially parallel and in close proximity, and umbilical cord gripping and closing means defined by the members and including at least one first protrusion and a corresponding first groove on the first and second members, respectively, extending longitudinally of the members over a portion of the length of the members transversely to the cord stump, at least one second protrusion and a corresponding second groove defined by the members, the second protrUsion and the second groove being positioned at an end of and substantially contiguous with the first groove and the first protrusion and extending perpendicular to the first groove and protrusion across substantially the full width of the members whereby closure of the clamp over a stump folds the stump in perpendicular directions to thereby firmly grip and close the cord and prevent clamp slippage along the cord or perpendicular thereto.

Claim 3

A clamp according to claim 1 wherein the members are elongate and wherein about one-half of the members include a first groove and a first protrusion and another half of the members include a plurality of second grooves and second protrusions.

Claim 4

A clamp according to claim 2 wherein the first and second grooves and protrusions meet at about the center of the length of the members.

Claim 5

A clamp according to claim 1 wherein the first and second grooves and protrusions are alternatingly positioned on the members one behind the other.

Claim 6

An umbilical cord clamp comprising first and second transverse clamping bars, means for resiliently biasing the clamping bars towards each other, and anti-slippage cord closing means including at least two spaced apart first channel members extending parallel to and connected with one of the first and second bars and facing towards the other one of the clamping bars, a second channel member extending substantially perpendicularly to the first channel members, the second channel member being connected to one of the first and second bars, extending substantially fully across the width of such bar, being positioned at a space between the first channel members and facing the other one of the clamping bars, at least two spaced apart first protrusions extending in the direction of the bars for cooperation with and for biasing a section of the cord into the first channel members to thereby firmly grip the section and prevent the clamp from slipping along the cord, the first protrusions being secured to the clamping bar opposing the first channel members, and a second protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the bars for cooperation with and for biasing another section of the cord into the second channel member to thereby further grip the cord and prevent the clamp from slipping on the cord in a transverse direction, the second protrusion being secured to the clamping bar at a location opposing the second channel member.

Claim 7

An umbilical cord clamp comprising first and second transverse clamping bars, means for resiliently biasing the clamping bars towards each other, and anti-slippage cord closing means including at least two spaced apart first channel members extending parallel to and connected with one of the first and second bars and facing towards the other one of the clamping bars, a second channel member extending substantially perpendicularly to the first channel members, the second channel member being connected to one of the first and second bars, extending substantially fully across the width of such bar, being positioned at a space between the first channel members and facing the other one of the clamping bars, at least two spaced apart first protrusions extending in the direction of the bars for cooperation with and for biasing a section of the cord into the first channel members to thereby firmly grip the section and prevent the clamp from slipping along the cord, the first protrusions being secured to the clamping bar opposing the first channel members, and a second protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the bars for cooperation with and for biasing another section of the cord into the second channel member to thereby further grip the cord and prevent the clamp from slipping on the cord in a transverse direction, the second protrusion being secured to the clamping bar at a location opposing the second channel member.

Claim 8

A clamp according to claim 5 including a plurality of first and second channel members and a corresponding plurality of first and second protrusions, the members and protrusions being serially and alternatingly arranged along the bars.

Claim 9

A clamp according to claim 6 wherein the number of first channel members and first protrusions exceeds the number of second channel members and second protrusions by one.

Claim 10

A clamp according to claim 6 wherein the channel members and the protrusions include wall means defined by surfaces tapering towards the opposing bar, and including radiused surfaces interconnecting the surfaces and defining umbilical cord engaging edges incapable of incising the cord sections.

Claim 11

A clamp according to claim 6 wherein the first channel member and protrusion has a length substantially greater than the length of the second channel member and protrusion.

Claim 12

A clamp for closing an umbilical cord stump on a newborn infant comprising: a pair of substantially straight first and second members, spring means connected with first ends of the members and biasing the members into a mutually inclined position, lock means on one of said members for retaining the members against the force of the spring means substantially parallel and in close proximity, and umbilical cord gripping and closing means defined by the members and including a plurality of sets of spaced apart first protrusions on the first member, facing towards the second member and defining first channels extending in the direction of the length of the members, the first protrusions defining operative ends of the first member and the effective width of the first member, a central ridge depending from the second member and positioned to cooperate with the first channels to bias sections of the umbilical cord into the first channels by folding the sections in a first direction parallel to the members, the ridge including at least one notch defining at least one second channel positioned substantially perpendicular to the first channels and located between ends of the protrusion sets, a number of second ridges equalling the number of notches depending from the first member, positioned between the protrusion sets and extending transversely to the first channels and the ridge for cooperation with the slots and biasing other sections of the cord into the slots by folding the other sections in a direction transverse to the members, whereby application of the clamp over an umbilical cord stump and closure of the clamp folds the cord in transverse directions into the channels and the slots to firmly grip and close the cord and prevent clamp slippage along the cord or perpendicular thereto.

Claim 13

A clamp for closing an umbilical cord stump on a newborn infant comprising: a pair of substantially straight first and second members, spring means connected with first ends of the members and biasing the members into a mutually inclined position, lock means on one of said members for retaining the members against the force of the spring means substantially parallel and in close proximity, and umbilical cord gripping and closing means defined by the members and including a plurality of sets of spaced apart first protrusions on the first member, facing towards the second member and defining first channels extending in the direction of the length of the members, the first protrusions defining operative ends of the first member and the effective width of the first member, a central ridge depending from the second member and positioned to cooperate with the first channels to bias sections of the umbilical cord into the first channels by folding the sections in a first direction parallel to the members, the ridge including at least one notch defining at least one second channel positioned substantially perpendicular to the first channels and located between ends of the protrusion sets, a number of second ridges equalling the number of notches depending from the first member, positioned between the protrusion sets and extending transversely to the first channels and the ridge for cooperation with the slots and biasing other sections of the cord into the slots by folding the other sections in a direction transverse to the members, whereby application of the clamp over an umbilical cord stump and closure of the clamp folds the cord in transverse directions into the channels and the slots to firmly grip and close the cord and prevent clamp slippage along the cord or perpendicular thereto.

Claim 14

A clamp according to claim 10 including means on the protrusions and ridges preventing the formation of sharp edges that can pierce or incice the cord.

Claim 15

A clamp according to claim 10 wherein the ridges have a lesser cross section than the clear cross section of the first channels and of the slots to facilitate the folding of the cord sections into the channels and the slots and prevent cord rupture and clamp sticking and deformation.