Tubing occluder

摘要

A flexible tubing occluding device is provided for releasably occluding flexible tubing. The tubing occluding device includes housing that is adapted to receive the tubing and defines a tubing occluding surface against which a transverse section of the tubing is transversely urged and compressed when in an occluded position. A wedge-shaped tongue member is provided for urging the transverse section of the tubing against the tubing occluding surface. The geometry of the tubing occluding surface and the wedge-shaped tongue member cooperate to distribute a relatively low amount of force at the center portion of the occluded tubing and a relatively large force at the distal ends of the occluded tubing, utilizing the mechanical advantage of the wedge-shaped tongue member. The tubing occluding surface is configured so that the bottom half of the occluding tubing generally conforms to its original shape and so that most of the strain energy stored within the occluded tubing is utilized to allow restoration of the top half of the occluded tubing to an open position when the tubing is released from the occluded position.