Patent Application
20230057363
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to medical devices used in first aid. More specifically, this invention relates to improvements in tourniquets used for emergency medical use.
Loss of blood is a major cause of death in emergency situations in which the injured person is alone or medical assistance is not immediately available. The use of a tourniquet to stop blood loss from an injured arm or leg is a well-known technique for stopping blood flow in these situations. In general, for emergency use where the victim is alone, the victim must be able to apply the tourniquet to his or her own arm or leg and occlude blood flow using only one hand. A typical tourniquet is a tightly tied or wound band applied around a body part, e.g., an arm or a leg, in an attempt to stop severe bleeding or uncontrolled hemorrhage in an emergency situation.
In recent years, several tourniquets designed for one-handed application have become available. These tourniquets typically include a strap 10 engaged with a substantially rigid base 15 and threaded through or looped around a handle 20 as illustrated in
Another drawback of known tourniquets designed for one-handed application is that they are sometimes difficult to cinch even when the strap is engaged with the buckle requiring several tugs on the strap and sometimes aid of a second hand. Often, it necessary for an injured person to apply the tourniquet to its own limb. The injured person may have suffered severe trauma and may not have the presence of mind, the patience or the stamina to overcome cinching difficulties.
The use of a tourniquet by military personnel, law enforcement personnel and first responders impose weight and size restrictions. Such personnel carry a variety of critical equipment and they will be disinclined to carry a tourniquet if it is too heavy or if it is too bulky. Accordingly, there is a need for a lightweight, low-profile tourniquet that can be rapidly applied by a first responder or by the victim using one hand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, compact tourniquet suitable for one handed application.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tourniquet suitable for one handed application that can be easily applied to trapped limbs.
It is another object of the invention to provide a tourniquet suitable for one handed application that minimizes undesired loosening.
Still another object of the invention is to provide tourniquet suitable for one handed application that minimizes unintended disengagement.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a tourniquet suitable for one handed application that provides an audible alert when the tourniquet is properly deployed.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a tourniquet comprises a base and a constricting band disposed at least partially within the base. The constricting band extends from the base and has a first end attached to the base. A handle is engaged with the constricting band. A buckle assembly is provided that includes a polygonal frame member having a lengthwise dimension L2. A free end of the constricting band is threaded through the polygonal frame member. A hook member includes an eyelet, the hook member is pivotally attached to the first end of the constricting band via a loop. The hook member includes a cuff configured to releasably engage said polygonal frame member, where a side of the polygonal frame member that engages the hook has a length L3 that is less than a length L4 of an opposing side of the polygonal frame member and the hook has a length L1 that is about one half of the lengthwise dimension L2 of the opening of the polygonal frame member.
In another embodiment of the invention, a tourniquet includes a base and a constricting band disposed at least partially within the base. The constricting band extends from the base and has a first end attached to the base. A handle is engaged with the constricting band. A buckle assembly is provided with a hexagonal frame member. The free end of the constricting band is threaded through the hexagonal frame member. A hook member includes an eyelet and a cuff which is configured to releasably engage a first side of the hexagonal frame member which is parallel to a second side. The cuff has a length L1 that is shorter than a length L3 of the second side of the hexagonal frame member. A loop is fixedly attached to the base where the loop engages the eyelet of the hook member.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a connection assembly for a tourniquet is provided and includes a buckle assembly including a polygonal frame member configured to receive a constricting band. A hook member includes an eyelet and a cuff, the cuff is configured to releasably engage a first side of said hexagonal frame member. The cuff further includes an interior surface having a plurality of protrusions. The first side of the polygonal frame member is parallel to a second side and the cuff has a length L1 that is shorter than a length L3 of the second side of the polygonal frame member. The hook member is fixedly attached to the base by a loop.
As used herein “substantially,” “generally,”, “slightly” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic.
The following illustrated embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes based on presently known structural and/or functional equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
As illustrated in
A first end of constricting band 110 is fixedly attached, e.g., stitched, to base 115 at an attachment point 120. Constricting band 110 is then threaded through and/or engaged with a tourniquet handle 123 and reengaged with base 115 at a second end as illustrated in
In accordance with the invention, an exemplary embodiment of the tourniquet according to this invention further includes locking assembly 130 comprising self cinching buckle 135 and hook member 140. In some embodiments, buckle 135 includes a polygonal frame member 137 having a self cinching member 139 engaged with polygonal frame member 137. As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, frame member 137 is hexagonal. However, frame member 137 may comprise any polygonal shape that will allow self-cinching member 139 to pinch constricting band 110 against frame member 137.
Hook member 140 is pivotally attached to base 115 proximate to the first end of base 115 and is constructed to form a friction fit with frame member 137. As illustrated in
In keeping with an aspect of the invention hook member 140 has a length L1 that is substantially smaller than a lengthwise dimension L2 of the opening of frame member 137. In one embodiment, L1=1/2L2. Because the size of the opening of frame member 137 is larger than the length of hook member 140, it is easier for an individual under stress to connect hook member 140 to frame member 137 as it minimizes complicated motor movements and reduces the level of hand eye coordination required to connect hook member 140 to frame member 137. These are particularly important considerations in low light combat environments. In addition, the side of frame member 137 that engages hook member 140 has a length L3 that is just slightly longer than L1, i.e., a few centimeters or less. This makes it easier to connect hook member 140 to frame member 137 while minimizing undesired relative movement, sliding and/or pivoting, of hook member 140 with respect to frame member 137.
In keeping with another aspect of the invention, it is desirable to minimize the loosening of the tourniquet such as may happen, e.g., if the tourniquet is snagged during patient movement. Accordingly, a loop 150 is threaded through eyelet 148 and fixedly attached to base 115, e.g., by stitching, to connect hook member 140 to base 115. Frame member 137 has a rectangular cross section. Accordingly, when frame member 137 is lodged in the crescent trough of hook member 140, as the tourniquet is displaced during patient movement or tactical extraction, hook member 140 is inclined to pivot about loop 150 and is disinclined to pivot about frame member 137 which minimizes the prospect of accidental loosening of constriction band 110.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described by means of specific embodiments and alternatives, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited in any way except in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 17/577,167 filed Jan. 17, 2022 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/964,294 filed Dec. 9, 2010 which claims priority from application serial No. 61/285,157 filed Dec. 9, 2009, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61285157 | Dec 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17577167 | Jan 2022 | US |
| Child | 17977812 | US | |
| Parent | 12964294 | Dec 2010 | US |
| Child | 17577167 | US |
