Dual powered pressure inflator and method

• US 5,792,061 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medela Incorporated (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Incorporated (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Daneshvar, Yousef
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US08/434,840
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 128/672, 128/677-686, 92/92, 606/202
• US Class Current: 600/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers

Abstract

This invention considers the problem with inflation of the units by hands, and introduces a dual action inflation unit to be used for measurement of the blood pressure cuff and similar units such as D. Devices. The prototype of this unit consists of an electrical/pedal pumps combined with a manual inflation units. This will allow the electrical/pedal pumps to be used first for inflation of most of the inflatable part and then the manual unit will be used for a lesser degree of inflation as well as the adjustment of the inflation units. This combination is to prevent straining of the hands. It will also allow quick and easy action. This unit also allows a trigger system to be used for controlling the pressure in the system to prevent from the discomfort of the rotational action; it also has safety valves to prevent the pressure from exceeding a predicted level.

Claims

1. A device for setting the inflation pressure of an inflatable enclosure that applies pneumatic pressure to a living body and that has a port via which pressure fluid enters and exits the enclosure, comprising in combination with the enclosure:

pressurizing means that is not manually powered for inflating the enclosure;

pressurizing means that is manually powered for inflating the enclosure;

exhaust valve means for deflating the enclosure;

conduit means communicating with said pressurizing means that is not manually powered, said pressurizing means that is manually powered, said exhaust valve means, and said port of the enclosure;

wherein said pressurizing means that is manually powered and said exhaust valve means are disposed on a manually grippable body which comprises an inflation bulb that is manually squeezed to pressurize the enclosure and finger trigger means that operates said exhaust valve to deflate the enclosure; and

in which said body comprises a guard wall that is disposed to a side of the inflation bulb so that both it and the bulb can be manually grasped and the bulb squeezed toward the wall.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said manually grippable body comprises a bent tube that is closed at one end by the bulb and that is connected at the other end to the conduit means.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said trigger means is disposed forwardly of said bulb relative to said wall.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which said trigger means is pivotally mounted on said body.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 further including a transportable stand on which said device is mounted.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which said stand comprises a base and an upright extending from said base, and in which said pressurizing means that is not manually powered is disposed on said base.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which said pressurizing means that is not manually powered comprises a foot operated pump disposed on said base.

8. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which said conduit means comprises a conduit extending upwardly along said upright from said pressurizing means that is not manually powered to a port of a stopcock valve means for connection to said enclosure having other ports to which said pressurizing means that is manually powered, said exhaust valve means, and said enclosure are coupled by other conduits of said conduit means.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 including a pressure display mounted on said upright to sense pressure in said conduit means at a location between said pressurizing means that is manually not powered and said stopcock valve means.

10. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which said stand comprises at least one wheel providing for rolling along a horizontal surface, and said upright comprises a handle shaped to allow the stand to be vertically hanged.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10 including a basket disposed on said upright spaced from said base.

12. A device as set forth in claim 10 in which said base comprises a stop for frictionally engaging a horizontal surface when the stand is not being rolled to resist rolling.

13. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which said pressurizing means that is not manually powered comprises an electric-operated pump disposed on said base.

14. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said inflatable enclosure comprises a blood pressure cuff.

15. A device for setting the inflation pressure of an inflatable enclosure that applies pneumatic pressure to a living body and that has a port via which pressure fluid enters and exits the enclosure, comprising in combination with the enclosure:

pressurizing means that is not manually powered for inflating the enclosure;

pressurizing means that is manually powered for inflating the enclosure;

exhaust valve means for deflating the enclosure;

conduit means communicating with said pressurizing means that is not manually powered, said pressurizing means that is manually powered, said exhaust valve means, and said port of the enclosure;

wherein stopcock valve means is disposed for establishing selective communication with said pressurizing means that is not manually powered and said pressurizing means that is manually powered with said enclosure via said conduit means.

16. A device as set forth in claim 15 in which a connection port is associated with said conduit means and said stopcock valve means to provide for connection of another inflatable device to said conduit means so as to enable such another inflatable device to be inflated by either one of said pressurizing means and deflated by said exhaust valve means.

17. A device as set forth in claim 15 in which said inflatable enclosure comprises a blood pressure cuff.