Tourniquet and method of using same

• US 20050267518A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tiax, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tiax, LLC
• Inventors: Mankame, Anil, Hoekstra, Joop F., Turieo, Melanie J., Wright, Theodore J.
• Application Number:
  US11/100,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/132 Tourniquets sphygmomanometer A61B5/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1322 comprising a flexible encircling member A61B17/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1327 Tensioning clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like

Abstract

A tourniquet includes a tensioning mechanism configured to provide a continuous range of adjustment of tension applied by the tourniquet. The tensioning mechanism includes a housing, an arbor coupled to the housing, the arbor being connected to the strap, and a crank assembly coupled to the arbor. The crank assembly includes a crank, and at least one gear mechanism coupled to the crank and to the arbor. In one embodiment, the at least one gear mechanism includes a worm shaft and a worm wheel. In another embodiment, the crank is movable between a use position and a stowed position. A method of restricting blood flow to a portion of a limb is further disclosed.

Claims

1. A tourniquet comprising:

a tensioning mechanism constructed and arranged to provide a continuous range of adjustment of tension applied by the tourniquet.

2. The tourniquet of claim 1, further comprising a strap coupled to the tensioning mechanism.

3. The tourniquet of claim 2, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises

a housing,

an arbor coupled to the housing, the arbor being connected to the strap, and

a crank assembly coupled to the arbor.

4. The tourniquet of claim 3, wherein the crank assembly comprises a crank, and at least one gear mechanism coupled to the crank and to the arbor.

5. The tourniquet of claim 4, wherein the at least one gear mechanism comprises a worm shaft and a worm wheel.

6. The tourniquet of claim 4, wherein the crank is movable between a use position and a stowed position.

7. The tourniquet of claim 2, wherein the strap comprises two strap portions, each strap portion having one end attached to the tensioning mechanism and an opposite end attached to the other strap portion by a cinching mechanism.

8. The tourniquet of claim 7, wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a pair of D-rings.

9. A tourniquet comprising:

a strap; and

a tensioning mechanism coupled to the strap, constructed and arranged to increase and decrease tension applied by the tourniquet.

10. The tourniquet of claim 9, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises

a housing,

an arbor coupled to the housing, and connected to an end of the strap, and

a crank assembly coupled to the arbor.

11. The tourniquet of claim 10, wherein the crank assembly comprises a crank, and at least one gear mechanism coupled to the crank and to the arbor.

12. The tourniquet of claim 11, wherein the at least one gear mechanism comprises a worm shaft coupled to one of the crank and the arbor and a worm wheel coupled to the other of the crank and the arbor.

13. The tourniquet of claim 11, wherein the crank is movable between a use position in which the crank may be manipulated to increase and decrease the tension applied by the strap, and a stowed position in which the crank is substantially concealed.

14. The tourniquet of claim 11, wherein the at least one gear mechanism is adapted to translate rotational motion applied to the crank to linear motion applied to the strap.

15. The tourniquet of claim 11, further comprising a quick-release device to disengage the at least one gear mechanism from the arbor.

16. The tourniquet of claim 9, wherein the strap comprises two strap portions, each strap portion having one end attached to the tensioning mechanism and an opposite end attached to the other strap portion by a cinching mechanism.

17. The tourniquet of claim 16, wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a pair of D-rings.

18. The tourniquet of claim 16, further comprising a quick-attach mechanism.

19. A tourniquet comprising:

a strap; and

means for providing a continuous range of adjustment of tension applied by the tourniquet.

20. The tourniquet of claim 19, wherein the means for providing a continuous range of adjustment of tension comprises a tensioning mechanism.

21. The tourniquet of claim 20, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises

a housing,

an arbor coupled to the housing, the arbor being connected to an end of the strap, and

a crank assembly coupled to the arbor.

22. The tourniquet of claim 21, wherein the crank assembly comprises a crank, and at least one gear mechanism coupled to the crank and to the arbor.

23. The tourniquet of claim 22, wherein the at least one gear mechanism comprises a worm shaft and a worm wheel.

24. The tourniquet of claim 22, wherein the crank is movable between a use position and a stowed position.

25. The tourniquet of claim 19, wherein the strap comprises two strap portions, each strap portion having one end attached to the tensioning mechanism and an opposite end attached to the other strap portion by a cinching mechanism.

26. The tourniquet of claim 25, wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a pair of D-rings.

27. A method of restricting blood flow to a portion of a limb, the method comprising:

applying a tourniquet having a tensioning mechanism to the limb; and

adjusting the tensioning mechanism of the tourniquet to provide a continuous range of adjustment of tension applied by the tourniquet.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein adjusting the tension is achieved by using one hand.