Disposable blood pressure cuff

• US 5,511,552 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cas Medical Systems Incorporated (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cas Medical Systems Incorporated (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US08/300,396
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 128/686, 606/201-203
• US Class Current: 600/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

A disposable blood pressure cuff is made from a composite of a non-stretchable paper component and an elastic thermoplastic material component. The paper component provides the necessary outer circumferential strength for the cuff so that it will not stretch outwardly when it is inflated. The thermoplastic layer provides an inwardly expandable surface for contacting a limb of the patient which the cuff encircles. A tape tab is included to releasably attach the cuff to the patient'"'"'s limb. The tab is provided with a visible indicium which indicates the proper degree of overlap of the ends of the cuff when the latter is affixed to the patient'"'"'s limb. The cuff may be used by only one patient, and may be discarded when the patient is finished with it. The cuff is provided with a one-piece slip luer fitting which includes a flange disposed within the chamber, and an annular tube projecting through an outer component of the cuff. The slip luer flange is adhered to the outer cuff component, and the annular tube includes a tapered part which is operative to provide a sealed joint with a complementary luer fitting on a blood pressure monitor inflation/deflation line, thereby eliminating the necessity of a separate hose component on the cuff.

Claims

1. An inflatable blood pressure cuff which may be used by a single patient and safely disposed of thereafter, said cuff comprising:

a) an inner elastic resin component, said inner component being operable to compress a patient'"'"'s appendage when said cuff is inflated;

b) an outer component which combines with said inner component to form an internal expandable cuff inflation chamber, said outer component comprising;

i) a first layer of bondable material facing said inflation chamber;

ii) an essentially non-stretchable paper layer overlying said first layer, said paper layer being operable to resist outward expansion when the cuff is inflated; and

iii) a resinous layer disposed on said paper layer on a side thereof which is opposite said first layer, said resinous layer forming an outermost layer of said outer component.

2. The cuff of claim 1 wherein said first layer is polyethylene and is sealed at its peripheral edges to corresponding peripheral edges of said inner component so as to close all sides of said inflation chamber.

3. The cuff of claim 2 further comprising an adhesive closure tape adhered to said outermost layer of said outer component, and extending from one side edge of the cuff so as to be able to adhere opposite edges of the cuff to each other when the cuff is placed on a patient'"'"'s appendage.

4. The cuff of claim 2 further comprising a one piece slip luer fitting mounted in an opening in said outer component and adhered to said first layer of said outer component, said slip luer forming a fitting for directly receiving a complementary luer fitting on an inflation/deflation hose on a blood pressure monitor.