| abstract |
An occluder ( 147 ), and methods for occlusion, that employs first and second opposed occluding members ( 165 ) associated with each other, a tube contacting member ( 161 ) connected to, or comprising at least a portion of, at least one of the first and second occluding members, and a force actuator ( 166 ) constructed and positioned to apply a force to at least one of the first and second occluding members. Application of the force by the force actuator may cause the tube contacting member to move between a tube occluding and an open position. A release member ( 169 ) may be configured and positioned to enable an operator to manually move the tube contacting member from the tube occluding position to the open position even with no force applied to the occluding member by the force actuator. In one embodiment, the force actuator may apply a force sufficient to bend both the first and second occluding members, so that upon application of the force by the force actuator (such as an air bladder), the first and second occluding members (e.g., spring plates pivotal Iy connected at opposite ends) bend and the tube contacting member may move between a tube occluding and an open position. |