RECYCLABLE OR BIODEGRADABLE BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF

• US 20100298725A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkins, Jeffrey, Edwards, Ian K., Lia, Raymond A., Vivenzio, Robert L., Karla, Sean R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/490
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

A blood pressure cuff is defined by a first sheet, having an opening, and a second sheet. The second sheet is attached to a bottom of the first sheet to form an interior inflatable portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, with the opening of the first sheet fluidly interconnecting the interior inflatable portion with an exterior of the cuff. The blood pressure cuff is made from a single type of material and can be recycled, biodegradable, or composted.

Claims

1. A blood pressure cuff, the cuff comprising:

a first sheet having an opening;

a second sheet, wherein the second sheet is attached to a bottom of the first sheet; and

an interior-inflatable portion between the first sheet and second sheet, wherein the opening of the first sheet fluidly interconnects the interior-inflatable portion with an exterior of the cuff, the cuff being made from a single type of material.

2. A cuff as recited in claim 1, the first sheet further including a slotted portion spaced apart from the inflatable portion with a length of the first sheet and a length of the second sheet being substantially parallel to each other.

3. A cuff as recited in claim 2, wherein the slotted portion is sized to limit a limb circumference that the cuff can be attached to.

4. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein the opening further comprises a socket made from the single type of material.

5. A cuff as recited in claim 4, wherein the socket is configured to receive at least one of a gage housing and a hose adapter.

6. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein the cuff further comprises means for indicating that the cuff has already been used.

7. A cuff as recited in claim 6, wherein means for indicating that the cuff has already been used includes alteration of a color of a treated portion of the cuff after exposure to light.

8. A cuff as recited in claim 1, the first sheet further including a hook, made from the single type of material, attached to a bottom of the first sheet and spaced apart from the second sheet.

9. A cuff as recited in claim 8, wherein the hook is attached to an end portion of the first sheet and on a side of the first sheet including the slotted portion.

10. A cuff as recited in claim 8, wherein a top of the first sheet further comprises a loop fastener configured to engage the hook.

11. A cuff as recited in claim 10, wherein the top of the first sheet comprises a non-woven fibrous material.

12. A cuff as recited in claim 10, wherein the non-woven fibrous material has a weight of about 0.5 to 3.0 ounces per square yard.

13. A cuff as recited in claim 10, wherein a film is laminated to the bottom of the first sheet.

14. A cuff as recited in claim 13, wherein the film has a thickness of about 0.002 to 0.008 inches and a weight of about 1.0 to 7.0 ounces per square yard.

15. A cuff as recited in claim 13, wherein the first sheet has a creep elongation of less than about 0.0065 inches.

16. A cuff as recited in claim 10, wherein a bottom of the first sheet has a smooth texture.

17. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein a top of the second sheet comprises a non-woven fibrous material configured to resist engagement of a fastener means.

18. A cuff as recited in claim 10, wherein the loop fasteners are degraded upon attachment and subsequent removal from the hook.

19. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein the single type of material is a recyclable material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene.

20. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein a length of the first sheet is sized to allow the cuff to be wrapped around a limb at least two times.

21. A cuff as recited in claim 16, wherein the cuff further comprises a fastening means attached to the bottom of the first sheet.

22. A cuff as recited in claim 17, wherein the fastening means engages with a portion of the first sheet apart from the inflatable portion of the first sheet.

23. A cuff as recited in claim 1, wherein a length of a non-inflatable portion of the first sheet is sized to fully overlap the inflatable portion when the cuff is wrapped around a limb of a patient.

24. A blood pressure cuff, the cuff comprising:

a first sheet having an opening;

a second sheet, wherein the second sheet is attached to a bottom of the first sheet; and

an inflatable portion between the first sheet and second sheet, wherein the opening of the first sheet fluidly interconnects the interior inflatable portion with an exterior of the cuff, the cuff being treated with an additive that renders the cuff biodegradable.

25. A cuff as recited in claim 24, wherein the cuff is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene.

26. A cuff as recited in claim 24, the cuff further including a slotted portion on a side opposite the opening.

27. A cuff as recited in claim 25, the first sheet further comprising:

a hook attached to a bottom of the first sheet and spaced apart from the second sheet, the hook being treated with the additive,

wherein the hook is attached to an end portion of the first sheet on a side of the first sheet including the slotted portion, and

wherein a top of the first sheet includes loop fasteners configured to engage the hook.

28. A cuff as recited in claim 24, the first sheet having a weight of about 1.5 to 10.0 ounces per square yard and a creep elongation of less than about 0.0065 inches.

29. A method for manufacturing a blood pressure cuff, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first sheet having a slotted portion and a bottom surface made from a fluid impermeable material;

providing a second sheet having a bottom surface made from a fluid impermeable material;

attaching a socket to an opening of the first sheet;

attaching a portion of the bottom surface of the second sheet to a portion of the bottom of the first sheet in an area of the first sheet including the opening, thereby forming an inflatable portion between the first sheet and second sheet, wherein the opening of the first sheet fluidly interconnects the interior inflatable portion with an exterior of the cuff; and

attaching a fastening means to the bottom surface of the first sheet and spaced apart from the inflatable portion.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the cuff is made from a recyclable material.

31. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the cuff is made from a biodegradable material.

32. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising the step of sizing the slotted portion in order to limit the range of limb sizes to which the cuff can be attached, wherein the slotted portion is further sized to permit the attachment of pneumatic means to the opening to permit inflation and deflation of the cuff.

33. A method as recited in claim 29, including the step of providing closure means for releasably securing the cuff in a wrapped configuration.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the closure means includes hook and loop fasteners wherein the exterior surface of the cuff is made from a material that provides adhesion to a hook fastener portion of the cuff, thereby serving as loop fasteners.