Vascular tourniquet

• US 3,877,434 A
• Filed: 02/11/1974
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Fred E. Satchell, Norbert W. Burlis, Thomas B. Ferguson
• Inventors: Burlis, Norbert W., Satchell, Fred E., Ferguson, Thomas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Layton, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/441,702
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 128/325,326,327,349 251/7
• US Class Current: 606/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence

Abstract

A vascular tourniquet or snare for use in a surgical procedure where it is desired to limit or restrict flow through a body vessel or to secure a tube within such vessel. The tourniquet or snare consists of an elongate sheath through which a rigid retractor extends. A tape or cord wrapped about the vessel is withdrawn through the sheath by the retractor and secured thereto by a plug inserted in the proximal end of the sheath.

Claims

1. A vascular tourniquet comprising an elongate tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends, an elongate retractor extending through the lumen of said sheath and beyond both ends thereof, said retractor having a handle at its proximal end and a hook at its distal end, a cord or the like adapted to be positioned about a body vessel and engaged by said hook for drawing the ends of the cord through the lumen of the sheath and out its proximal end upon withdrawal of said retractor from said lumen, and a plug axially insertable from the exterior of said sheath into the proximal end of said sheath to secure the cord against axial movement with respect to said sheath.

2. The vascular tourniquet of claim 1 further comprising a tubular collar secured within the lumen of said sheath at its proximal end, said collar having a bore with an inner diameter generally corresponding to the outer diameter of said plug for frictionally receiving the same.

3. The vascular tourniquet of claim 2 further comprising an integral strap securing said plug to said collar.

4. The vascular tourniquet of claim 1 wherein said hook comprises a proximally directed open loop having a tip portion inclined toward the axis of said retractor.

5. The vascular tourniquet of claim 4 wherein said handle is a finger ring.

6. The vascular tourniquet of claim 4 further comprising a tubular collar secured within the lumen at the proximal end of said sheath, and an integral strap securing said plug to said collar, said collar having a bore with an inner diameter generally corresponding to the outer diameter of said plug for frictionally receiving the same.

7. The vascular tourniquet of claim 1 wherein said hook comprises a flexible loop integrally carried at the distal end of said retractor, said loop normally having a transverse dimension greater than the diameter of said lumen but being capable of flexing to a smaller dimension to pass through said lumen upon withdrawal of said retractor.

8. The vascular tourniquet of claim 7 further comprising a tubular collar secured within the lumen at the proximal end of said tube, and an integral strap securing said plug to said collar, said collar having a bore with an inner diameter generally corresponding to the outer diameter of said plug for receiving said cord and frictionally receiving said plug.

9. The vascular tourniquet of claim 1 wherein said hook comprises a loop at the distal end of said retractor, said loop defining an elongate eyelet open at its proximal end and tapering toward its distal end for receiving the cord in wedged frictional engagement and having a tip at the open proximal end of said eyelet which is radially inward relative to the periphery of the main portion of said retractor to prevent snagging of the hook on the distal end of said sheath.

10. The vascular tourniquet of claim 9 wherein said loop is an integral part of said retractor and has a portion spaced distally of said tip which is substantially equal to the diameter of the main portion of said retractor.

11. The vascular toUrniquet of claim 1 further including flexible plastic connection means connecting said plug to said sheath to allow axial insertion of said plug into the proximal end of said sheath to frictionally engage and hold said cord and to allow axial removal of said plug from the proximal end of said sheath.

12. The vascular tourniquet of claim 11 wherein said plug is of plastic material.