Mechanical tourniquet apparatus and method of use
AssigneesAlphapointe, The Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsChristopher B. Kosiorek, Dexter C. Drayton, Esra Abir, Neslihan Damar, Nilufer Polat, Yavuz Avci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pre-fabricated tourniquet that is easy to apply, that ensures consistent and even circumferential pressure, that is light weight, that provides standard life saving operation, and that can be utilized in any setting or situation, and related methods are provided. Mechanically constricting tourniquet apparatus and related methods are provided that are comprised of a tourniquet body, a carriage, a torsion bar, a receiver and a slider. The tourniquet is long enough to encircle a human limb, for example, an arm or leg.
Claims17
A tourniquet apparatus comprising:
- a tourniquet body having a length sufficient to encircle a limb;
- a tightening strap having a middle portion extending between opposed first and second ends, said first and second ends of the tightening strap being coupled to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body;
- wherein the tourniquet apparatus is moveable from an unconstricted configuration towards a constricted configuration by moving the first and second locations of the tourniquet body towards each other;
- a carriage engaged with the tourniquet body, opposed first and second ends of the carriage being positioned adjacent to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body when the tourniquet apparatus is in the unconstricted configuration.
A method of making a tourniquet apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a tourniquet body, the tourniquet body having a length sufficient to encircle a limb;
- and
- attaching opposed first and second ends of a tightening strap to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body, the tightening strap having a middle portion extending between the first and second ends of the tightening strap;
- wherein the tourniquet apparatus is moveable from an unconstricted configuration towards a constricted configuration by moving the first and second locations of the tourniquet body towards each other;
- engaging a carriage with the tourniquet body and positioning the carriage relative to the tourniquet body such that opposed first and second ends of the carriage are positioned adjacent to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body when the tourniquet apparatus is in the unconstricted configuration.
A method of using a tourniquet apparatus that is moveable between an unconstricted configuration and a constricted configuration, the method comprising:
- positioning the tourniquet apparatus on a limb such that a tourniquet body encircles the limb;
- moving first and second locations of the tourniquet body towards each other so as to move the tourniquet apparatus towards the constricted configuration, at least a portion of the tourniquet body being in tension when the tourniquet apparatus is in the constricted configuration
- wherein the tourniquet apparatus comprises a tightening strap having a middle portion extending between opposed first and second ends, the first and second ends of the tightening strap being coupled to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body;
- wherein the tourniquet apparatus further comprises a carriage engaged with the tourniquet body and positioned relative to the tourniquet body such that opposed first and second ends of the carriage are positioned adjacent to respective first and second locations of the tourniquet body when the tourniquet apparatus is in the unconstricted configuration, the method further comprising moving at least one of the first and second locations of the tourniquet body relative to its respective first and second end of the carriage as the tourniquet apparatus moves towards the constricted configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.