Pneumatic vein inflation device

• US 4,920,971 A
• Filed: 12/09/1988
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin W. Blessinger
• Original Assignee: Martin W. Blessinger
• Inventors: Blessinger, Martin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/281,627
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 128/327, 128/672, 128/677-686
• US Class Current: 600/492
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

In one particularly desirable form of the invention, the pneumatic vein inflation device for assisting in a medical testing and/or treatment procedure comprises a hard cylindrical tube, two inflatable ring-shaped bladders positioned in succession axially inside the hard cylindrical tube, an elastic jacket enclosing the inflatable bladders and the cylindrical tube holding the inflatable bladders in place and a means for pressurization and relief including a hand powered air pump and associated relief valve connected to a distribution valve which in turn is connected to one or the other inflatable bladder and a pressure gauge. Other forms of the instant invention can have various numbers of inflatable bladders.

Claims

1. A pneumatic vein inflation device for assisting in a medical testing and/or treatment procedure comprising:

(a) a fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube;

(b) two internal inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders positioned in succession axially inside said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube having a diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube and each of said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders being used successively during any and all given usages;

(c) means for pressurization and relief of said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders to and from a predetermined pressure that will be customized for each usage, and for distributing said pressure between said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders, said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders being of a size such that an extremity of an individual undergoing said medical testing and treatment procedure fits therein;

(d) said means for pressurization and relief comprises a hand powered air pump and a single associated relief valve connected by a first air hose section to a three way distribution valve which in turn is connected by a second air hose section to one of said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders and by a third air hose section to the other of said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders, and a pressure gauge connected to said first air hose section; and

(e) an elastic jacket surrounding said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders and said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube comprising an inner tubular sheath and an outer tubular sheath of substantially the same height as said inner tubular sheath, the opposite ends of said inner tubular sheath being homogeneously attached to the corresponding opposite ends of said outer tubular sheath to form said elastic jacket which holds said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders in place in said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube.

2. A pneumatic vein inflation device according to claim 1 in which said means for pressurization and relief comprises a hand powered air pump and said single associated relief valve for release of pressure and being connectable by flexible air hose section with either of said inflatable cylindrical ring shaped bladders according to choice.

3. A pneumatic vein inflation device according to claim 2 in which said means for pressurization and relief further comprises a pressure gauge so that said inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders may be inflated to a predetermined pressure that will be customized for each usage.

4. A pneumatic inflation device for assisting in a medical testing and/or treatment procedure comprising:

(a) a fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube;

(b) at least two internal inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders positioned in succession axially inside said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube having a diameter less than the inner diameter of said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube;

(c) an elastic jacket comprising an inner tubular sheath and an outer tubular sheath attached to said inner tubular sheath at opposing ends surrounding said inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders and said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube holding said inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders in said fastenerless hard inflexible cylindrical tube; and

(d) means for pressurization and relief of said inflatable cylindrical ring-shaped bladders haivng a hand powered air pump and a single associated relief valve connected by a first air hose section to a three-way distribution valve which in turn is connected by a second air hose section to one of said inflatable cylindrical ring like bladders and by a third air hose section to another of said inflatable cylindrical ring like bladders and a pressure gauge connected to said first air hose section.