Device For Control of Difficult to Compress Hemorrhage

• US 20100179586A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Original Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Inventors: Licata, Mark, Ward, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1322 comprising a flexible encircling member A61B17/135 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12004 for haemostasis, for prevention of bleeding

Abstract

Bleeding from blood vessels located in difficult-to-compress regions of the body (especially the abdomen, pelvic or groin region) is controlled by the use of a portable, small-footprint belt-like device that contains multiple inflatable bladders. The inflatable bladders are selectively positioned and inflated over exsanguinating blood vessels, thereby exerting pressure to stop the bleeding. The device may also be used to provide perfusion support in low flow disease states such as hemorrhagic shock and cardiac arrest.

Claims

1. A medical compress device, comprising:

a support member securable to a patient, said support member having at least two ends separated by a length dimension;

one or more inflatable bladders attached to said support member, said inflatable bladders being selectively inflatable and deflatable, each of said one or more inflatable bladders being positionable at multiple locations along said length of said support member,

whereby when said at least two ends of said support member are joined together to attach said support member to said patient and said one or more inflatable bladders are positioned at one or more selected locations of said multiple locations along said length of said support member and are inflated, a compressive force is exerted on said patient at least one specific area on said patient.

2. The medical compress device of claim 1 wherein said support member is comprised of one or more belts.

3. The medical compress device of claim 2 wherein said support member includes a channel formed in said one or more belts which extends along at least a portion of said length of said support member, and wherein said one or more inflatable bladders includes an attachment knob which includes a portion which fits within said channel.

4. The medical compress device of claim 3 wherein said one or more bladders have length and width dimensions which are different from each other, and wherein said one or more bladders are rotatable about said attachment knob relative to said one or more belts.

5. The medical compress device of claim 2 wherein said support member includes a channel forming member attached to said one or more belts which extends along at least a portion of said length of said support member, and wherein said one or more inflatable bladders includes an attachment knob which includes a portion which fits within said channel forming member.

6. The medical compress device of claim 5 wherein said one or more bladders have length and width dimensions which are different from each other, and wherein said one or more bladders are rotatable about said attachment knob relative to said one or more belts.

7. The medical compress device of claim 1 wherein said support member is comprised of at least two belts and wherein at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders is secured to both of said two belts.

8. The medical compress device of claim 1 wherein said support member is comprised of at least two belts, and further comprising one or more connecting members which connect said at least two belts together at specified locations along said length of each of said at least two belts.

9. The medical compress device of claim 1 further comprising one or more barriers positioned at specified locations along said length of said support member, said one or more barriers restricting movement of said one or more inflatable bladders to defined portions along said length of said support member.

10. The medical compress device of claim 1 further comprising a pump connectable to at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders for inflating said one or more inflatable bladders.

11. The medical compress device of claim 10 wherein said pump includes a valve for deflating said at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders.

12. The medical compress device of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor connectable to at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders.

13. The medical compress device of claim 1 wherein said one or more inflatable members are slidable along said length of said support member.

14. The medical compress device of claim 1 further comprising at least one connecting member positioned at one end of said at least two ends of said support member.

15. The medical compress device of claim 14 wherein said at least one connecting member includes two connecting members which selectively join together and detach from each other, wherein one of said two connecting members is joined to each of said two ends of said support member.

16. The medical compress device of claim 1 further comprising at least one tightening member associated with at least a portion of said support member for tightening said support member on said patient after said two ends of said support member are joined together.

17. The medical compress device of claim 1 wherein said support member is comprised of at least two belts and further comprising one or more sliding straps wherein said one or more sliding straps are slidably connected to each of said at least two belts and are slidable along said at least two belts, and wherein at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders is secured to said one or more sliding straps.

18. The medical compress device of claim 17 wherein at least one of said one or more inflatable members is secured to at least two sliding straps.

19. The medical compress device of claim 1, further comprising a feedback mechanism for adjusting a level of inflation of one or more of said inflatable bladders in response to a value of a vital sign of a patient to whom said medical compress device is attached.

20. The medical compress device of claim 1, wherein said support member further comprises one or more pockets for receiving said one or more inflatable bladders.

21. The medical compress device of claim 20, wherein a position of said one or more inflatable bladders within said one or more pockets is adjustable.

22. The medical compress device of claim 3, wherein said channel forms a grid.

23. The medical compress device of claim 5, wherein said channel forming member forms a grid.

24. A method for exerting a compressive force at least one specific area on a patient in need thereof, comprising the steps of

i) attaching to said patient a medical compress device, comprising:

a support member, said support member having at least two ends separated by a length dimension; and

one or more inflatable bladders attached to said support member, said inflatable bladders being selectively inflatable and deflatable, each of said one or more inflatable bladders being positionable at multiple locations along said length of said support member;

wherein said step of attaching includes a step of joining together said at least two ends of said support member;

ii) positioning said one or more inflatable bladders at one or more selected locations of said multiple locations along said length of said support member, wherein said one or more selected locations at least partially covers said at least one specific area on said patient; and

iii) inflating said one or more inflatable bladders at one or more selected locations, whereby said step of inflating causes a compressive force to be exerted at said at least one specific area on said patient.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said method is used to control hemorrhage.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said method is used as an adjunct to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

27. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of said one or more inflatable bladders is automatically inflated or deflated based on vital signs for said patient.