TOURNIQUET CUFF WITH A TIGHTNESS INDICATOR

• US 20090062843A1
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Surgical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Surgical Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heston, Brian K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,900,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1322 comprising a flexible encircling member A61B17/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A tourniquet cuff has a body configured for being wrapped around a limb. The body has an unpressurized state and a pressurized state. A securing portion on the body is releasably engageable to the body. The cuff also has an indicator that operates in response to movement of the securing portion for locating where the securing portion engages the body in order to apply a predetermined amount of force sufficient to secure the body to a limb without causing significant venous occlusion at the limb when the body is in the unpressurized stated.

Claims

1. A tourniquet cuff, comprising:

a body configured for being wrapped around a limb, the body having an unpressurized state and a pressurized state and having a securing portion releasably engageable to the body; and

an indicator that operates in response to movement of the securing portion for locating where the securing portion engages the body in order to apply a predetermined amount of force sufficient to secure the body to a limb without causing significant venous occlusion at the limb when the body is in the unpressurized state.

2. The tourniquet cuff of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a resilient portion with a natural bias against extension, the resilient portion being extended against the natural bias as the securing portion is being wrapped around a limb for securement to the body.

3. The tourniquet cuff of claim 2 wherein the resilient portion has a natural length and a fully extended length and the fully extend length indicates that the securing portion has been sufficiently wrapped around a limb and is to be engaged with the body to secure the body to a limb.

4. The tourniquet cuff of claim 2 wherein the body has a taut state, and wherein the resilient portion is configured and disposed on the body to absorb force while the body is pulled into the taut state.

5. The tourniquet cuff of claim 4 wherein the taut state indicates that a sufficient amount of tension is applied to the body and that the securing portion should be attached to the body.

6. The tourniquet cuff of claim 4, wherein the body has a proximal end portion for contacting the limb, wherein the resilient portion has a distal end disposed at the securing portion, and wherein the taut state comprises the body being generally taut from the proximal end portion to at least the distal end of the resilient portion.

7. The tourniquet cuff of claim 2, wherein the body has a proximal end portion for being placed against the limb and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal end portion and the securing portion, and wherein the resilient portion extends from the intermediate portion to the securing portion.

8. The tourniquet cuff of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a main member and a securing strap connected to the main member and the securing strap includes the securing portion.

9. The tourniquet cuff of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises at least one resiliently extendable member with a first portion connected to the main member and a second portion connected to the securing portion so that the resiliently extendable member is stretched to a predetermined extension to indicate that the cuff is sufficiently wrapped about the limb.

10. The tourniquet cuff of claim 9 wherein the at least one resiliently extendable member has a distal end and is in the predetermined extension when the securing strap is generally taut from the main member and to at least the distal end.

11. The tourniquet cuff of claim 9, wherein the at least one resiliently extendable member includes an intermediate section generally extending along the securing strap when the securing strap is in a taut state and free to move away from the securing strap when the securing strap is in a slackened state.

12. The tourniquet cuff of claim 9, wherein the at least one resiliently extendable member is disposed at least partially within the securing strap.

13. The tourniquet cuff of claim 9, wherein the at least one resiliently extendable member is integrally formed with the strap.

14. The tourniquet cuff of claim 9, wherein the at least one resiliently extendable member comprises a plurality of generally parallel extending resiliently extendable members.

15. The tourniquet cuff of claim 8, wherein the indicator comprises a resilient portion of at least one of the main member and the securing strap, the resilient portion being stretched against a natural bias of the resilient portion as the one of the main member or securing strap with the resilient portion is pulled generally taut to indicate the sufficient distance for the securing strap to be wrapped about a limb.

16. A tourniquet cuff comprising:

a main member configured for being wrapped around a limb and having an unpressurized state and a pressurized state;

a securing portion having an attachment end portion connected to the main member and being releasably engageable to the main member; and

an indicator for indicating that the securing end portion has been moved around a limb a sufficient distance for the main member to apply a sufficient amount of force to a limb for snugly holding the main member on the limb without causing significant venous occlusion at the limb when the main member is in an unpressurized state.

17. The tourniquet cuff of claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises at least one resilient member of at least one of the main member and the securing portion, the resilient member being expandable against a natural bias of the resilient member as at least the one of the main member or securing strap with the resilient member is pulled generally taut.

18. The tourniquet cuff of claim 17, wherein the at least one resilient member has one portion connected to the main member and another portion connected to the securing portion.

19. The tourniquet cuff of claim 16 wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a plurality of generally parallel extending resilient members.

20. A method of securing a tourniquet cuff to a limb, comprising:

wrapping a body having a pressurized state and an unpressurized state around the limb;

stretching a resilient portion of the body against the natural bias of the resilient portion as the body is pulled generally taut; and

releasably securing a securing portion of the body to an intermediate part of the body so that the body is held snugly on the limb without significantly restricting blood flow out of the limb when the body is in an unpressurized state.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein wrapping a body around the limb includes wrapping a main member around the limb, and

wherein pulling the body generally taut includes pulling a securing strap connected to the main member generally taut.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising instructing a user to engage the securing portion to the body when the securing portion is taut.