Monitor to detect bleeding

• US 5,579,765 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley J. Bush, Danny L. Cox
• Original Assignee: Bradley J. Bush, Danny L. Cox
• Inventors: Cox, Danny L., Bush, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US08/452,987
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 128/630, 128/638-39, 128/734
• US Class Current: 600/307
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/00 Auxiliary appliances for wound dressings; Dispensing containers for dressings or bandages packaging of absorbent articles such as diapers, feminine hygiene absorbing pads or tampons A61F13/551; packaging of wound dressings A61F13/00072

Abstract

A monitor for detecting external bleeding from a puncture site on a patient. The monitor is provided with a self-sticking bandage portion on one end connected by means of a flexible connecting strip to a self-sticking holder portion on an opposite end. The bandage portion is applied so the puncture site is visible through a transparent window provided over a central opening in the bandage portion. A pair of spaced apart wires encircles the central opening, extends across the connecting strip and removably secures to a portable alarm device containing a battery and alarm connected in series by means of the wires. When the puncture site hemorrhages, blood contacts the wires, allowing electrical current to flow between the wires via the electrically conductive blood and thus supplying electricity to the alarm in order to activate it.

Claims

1. A monitor for detecting bleeding comprising:

a bandage portion securable over a puncture site on a patient,

said bandage portion being provided with a central bandage opening therethrough, and

two spaced apart electrically conductive wires encircling said central bandage opening, each of said wires being electrically connected in series with a power supply and an alarm.

2. A monitor according to claim 1 further comprising:

a transparent window provided in said central bandage opening.

3. A monitor according to claim 1 wherein said wires are removably connected to a portable alarm device which is comprised of electrically connected said power supply and said alarm.

4. A monitor according to claim 3 wherein said power supply is a battery.

5. A monitor according to claim 1 further comprising:

a holder portion secured by means of a flexible connecting strip to said bandage portion, said wires each extending from said bandage portion across said connecting strip to said holder portion, holding means being provided on said holder portion for holding said power supply and said alarm.

6. A monitor according to claim 5 wherein both said holder portion and said bandage portion are provided with self-sticking bottom surfaces.

7. A monitor according to claim 1 further comprising:

a gauze layer being provided on a bottom surface of said bandage portion so that said gauze layer lies between the patient and said wires.

8. A monitor according to claim 7 further comprising:

said gauze layer being provided with a central gauze opening, said central gauze opening coinciding with said central bandage opening.

9. A disposable bandage for monitoring for bleeding from a puncture site of a post-angioplasty patient comprising:

a bandage portion securable over a puncture site on a patient,

said bandage portion being provided with a central bandage opening therethrough,

two spaced apart concentrically arranged electrical conductors encircling said bandage opening,

a first end of each two spaced apart concentrically arranged electrical conductors removably secured around the puncture site on the patient,

an opposite end of each said two electrical conductors being electrically connected in series with a power source and an alarm.

10. A bandage according to claim 9 further comprising:

said first ends of said electrical conductors being secured to said patient by means of the bandage portion, said bandage portion being provided with a transparent window covering the central bandage opening in said bandage portion so that the puncture site may be observed therethrough, said first ends being concentrically arranged around said bandage opening.

11. A bandage according to claim 10 wherein said power source and said alarm are removably connected to said electrical conductors.

12. A bandage according to claim 11 further comprising:

a holder portion attached to said bandage portion by means of a flexible connecting strip,

said holder portion securable to said patient, and

a holding means provided on said holder portion in order to secure said power source and said alarm to said holder portion.