Portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet

• US 20080281351A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compression Works, LLC
• Original Assignee: Compression Works, LLC
• Inventors: Schwartz, Richard, Croushorn, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1325 with means for applying local pressure pressure pads A61F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34

Abstract

A portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet for occlusion of the abdominal descending aorta to restrict blood supply to a non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in the abdominal region. The tourniquet comprising an adjustable waist strap for securing around an abdomen; a directed air bladder mounted to the waist strap having a generally “V” shaped construction operable between a deflated condition wherein the directed air bladder is collapsed, and an inflated condition wherein the directed air bladder is expanded for exerting pressure against the abdomen; and, an air source connected to the directed air bladder for operating the directed air bladder between the deflated condition and the inflated condition.

Claims

1. A pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet comprising:

an adjustable waist strap for securing around an abdomen;

a rigid base plate carried by said waist strap having a width greater than said waist strap so that said base plate extends laterally outward from said waist strap to provide a stable base for positioning over a selected area of said abdomen;

a directed air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is expanded to extend outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate;

said directed air bladder having a generally “

V”

shaped construction so that a wide end of said directed air bladder is generally carried on said bottom side of said base plate and a narrow end of said directed air bladder presses against the abdomen when in said inflated condition so that a constricting force caused by inflation of said directed air bladder against said abdomen is focused against a narrow defined area of said abdomen to restrict blood flow through the abdominal aorta; and

,

an air source operatively connected in fluid communication with said directed air bladder for operating said directed air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition.

2. The tourniquet of claim 1 including a compression latch carried on said base plate operatively associated with said waist strap for tightening said waist strap around said abdomen.

3. The tourniquet of claim 2 wherein said compression latch includes a latch base mounted to a top side of said base plate in a fixed arrangement with a first distal end of said waist strap;

a latch arm pivotally mounted to said latch base operable between a closed position adjacent said latch base and an open position extending upward from said latch base; and

,

a terminal pivot arm pivotally carried by said latch arm having a second distal end of said waist strap secured thereto, wherein said terminal pivot arm is moved from a relaxed position to a tightened position when said latch arm is operated from said open position to said closed position so that said waist strap is shortened to tighten around said abdomen.

4. The tourniquet of claim 1 including a foam pad carried on said bottom side of said base plate disposed between said directed air bladder and said base plate to cushion said base plate against said abdomen when said directed air bladder is in said deflated condition.

5. The tourniquet of claim 4 wherein a peripheral edge of said foam pad extends beyond a peripheral edge of said base plate on all sides for cushioning against said abdomen before inflation of said directed air bladder.

6. The tourniquet of claim 1 including a protective bladder sleeve surrounding said directed air bladder in both said inflated and collapsed conditions to resist puncture and protect against environmental exposure of said directed air bladder.

7. The tourniquet of claim 6 wherein said protective bladder sleeve is attached to said directed air bladder so that said protective bladder sleeve is collapsed against said directed air bladder when said directed air bladder is in said deflated condition.

8. The tourniquet of claim 1 including an inflation control valve carried by said air bladder in fluid communication with said air source and an interior cavity of said directed air bladder for controlling the flow of air into and out of said directed air bladder.

9. The tourniquet of claim 8 wherein said inflation control valve is selected from the group consisting of a Presta valve and a Schrader valve.

10. The tourniquet of claim 8 wherein said air source comprises a compressed gas cartridge.

11. The tourniquet of claim 10 wherein said inflation control valve extends through said base plate for cooperating with said air source on a top side of said base plate.

12. The tourniquet of claim 11 including an elbow connecting valve disposed between said inflation control valve and said compressed gas cartridge so that said compressed gas cartridge extends generally parallel to said base plate when engaged with said elbow connecting valve.

13. The tourniquet of claim 1 including a pressure relief valve operatively associated with said directed air bladder for adjusting an air pressure within said directed air bladder when in said inflated condition.

14. The tourniquet of claim 1 wherein said air source includes a manual bulb pump having an air supply line connected to said directed air bladder in fluid communication for injecting air into said directed air bladder when said bulb pump is operated.

15. The tourniquet of claim 14 including a pressure relief valve carried by said air supply line for adjusting an air pressure within said directed air bladder when in said inflated condition.

16. The tourniquet of claim 1 including at least one guide marker carried on said base plate for aligning said base plate on said abdomen over the abdominal aorta.

17. A pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet comprising:

an adjustable waist strap for securing around an abdomen;

a directed air bladder mounted to said waist strap having a generally “

V”

shaped construction operable between a deflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is collapsed, and an inflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is expanded for exerting pressure against said abdomen; and

,

an air source connected to said directed air bladder for operating said directed air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition.

18. The tourniquet of claim 17 including a rigid base plate carried by said waist strap;

said base plate carrying said directed air bladder to provide a stable base for directing said air bladder against said abdomen.

19. The tourniquet of claim 18 including a foam pad carried on said bottom side of said base plate disposed between said directed air bladder and said base plate to cushion said base plate against said abdomen when said directed air bladder is in said deflated condition.

20. The tourniquet of claim 17 including a protective bladder sleeve surrounding said directed air bladder in both said inflated and collapsed conditions to resist puncture and protect against environmental exposure of said directed air bladder.