Portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet with supplemental tensioning means

A method for using an abdominal aortic tourniquet to stop bleeding in a person comprising:

• a. providing an abdominal aortic tourniquet, comprising:
• i. an adjustable waist strap for securing said abdominal aortic tourniquet around an abdomen of a person;
• ii. tensioning means connected to said waist strap wherein actuation of said tensioning means tightens said waist strap;
• iii. a directed air bladder mounted to said waist strap having a generally cuneiform shaped construction having a narrow converging end extending away from said adjustable waist strap to form an edge parallel to said strap, said air bladder operable between a deflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is collapsed, and an inflated condition wherein said directed air bladder is expanded for exerting pressure by said edge into said abdomen;
• and,
• iv. an air source connected to said directed air bladder for operating said directed air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition;
• b. securing said waist strap around an abdomen of said person, wherein said directed air bladder is in contact with the surface of said abdomen and positioned over the abdominal aorta of said person above the inguinal area of said person;
• c. inflating said directed air bladder with said air source;
• d. actuating said tensioning means to tighten said waist strap;
• and
• e. wherein said inflation step causes said edge to apply a deforming force across and against said aorta to occlude said same, and wherein said inflation step causes cessation of said bleeding at a location below and away from said point of aortic occlusion.

In a human experiencing a hemorrhage below the inguinal area of the body, an abdominal tourniquet adapted for achieving hemostasis at said hemorrhage site comprising:

• a. an adjustable waist strap adapted for securing said abdominal tourniquet around an abdomen of said body, said tourniquet including a windlass mechanism operatively connected to said waist strap for tightening said strap;
• b. a base plate carried by said waist strap and configured to provide a stable base therefrom, and wherein said base plate is adapted to be positioned over the abdominal aorta above the inguinal area of said body;
• c. an air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said air bladder is expanded to extend outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate toward said aorta;
• and,
• d. said air bladder having an elongated “V” shape and configured so that when in said inflated condition a tip of said bladder penetrates said abdomen and occludes said aorta, and wherein said occlusion results in hemostasis at said hemorrhage site below the inguinal area of the body, and wherein the tip of said air bladder comprises an elongated edge traversing the length of said bladder and generally equidistant from said base, wherein said elongated edge of the bladder is structured and dimensioned such that when said bladder is positioned over said aorta, said edge traverses said aorta to ensure occlusion of said aorta when said bladder is secured over the abdomen of said body and inflated;
• and,
• e. an air source operatively connected to said air bladder for inflation of said same.

An abdominal tourniquet, comprising:

• a. an adjustable waist strap for securing said abdominal tourniquet around an abdomen;
• b. a base plate carried by said waist strap and configured to provide a stable base therefrom, and wherein said base plate is positioned over the abdominal aorta above the inguinal area of the body;
• c. an air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said air bladder is expanded to extend outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate;
• d. said air bladder having an elongated “V” shape and configured so that when in said inflated condition a tip of said bladder penetrates said abdomen and occludes said aorta;
• wherein the tip of said air bladder comprises an elongated edge traversing the length of said bladder and generally equidistant from said based, wherein said elongated edge of the bladder is structured and dimensioned such that when said bladder is positioned over said aorta, said edge traverses said aorta to ensure occlusion of said aorta when said bladder is secured over the abdomen of said body and inflated;
• e. tensioning means mechanically connected to said strap for tightening said strap;
• and,
• f. an air source operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said air bladder for operating said air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition.

In a human experiencing bleeding at or below the inguinal area of the body, a method for achieving homeostasis at said site of bleeding comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a tourniquet comprising:
• i. an adjustable waist strap adapted for securing said tourniquet around an abdomen of said body;
• ii. a base plate carried by said waist strap and configured to provide a stable base therefrom;
• iii. an air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said air bladder is expanded outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate;
• iv. said air bladder having an elongated “V” shape and configured for resilient expansion downward;
• v. a windlass rod mechanically connected to said waist strap wherein rotation of said windlass rod tightens said waist strap;
• and,
• vi. an air source operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said air bladder for operating said air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition;
• b. securing said waist strap around an abdomen of a person and tightening said strap with said windlass rod, wherein said air bladder is in contact with the surface of said abdomen and positioned over said aorta at or above the umbilicus region of said person;
• c. inflating said air bladder with said air source;
• d. wherein said inflation step forces the tip of said air bladder into the abdomen with sufficient force to restrict blood flow in said aorta;
• and,
• e. wherein said inflation step causes blood flow control at a site below the inguinal area of the body.

A tourniquet, comprising:

• a. an adjustable strap adapted for securing said tourniquet around a portion of a patient;
• b. a base plate carried by said waist strap and configured to provide a stable base therefrom;
• c. an air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said air bladder is expanded outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate, said air bladder having an elongated “V” shape and configured for resilient expansion downward;
• d. a material shroud surrounding said base plate and said air bladder, said shroud affixed to and supporting a resilient top panel and a pair of resilient side panels depending downward therefrom, said shroud and said side and top panels configured such that said strap is positioned between said shroud and said panels for free movement therebetween;
• e. a windlass supported by said top panel, said windlass including a turning rod having a slot;
• f. said top panel defining an aperture, wherein said strap is threaded through said aperture and said slot in said windlass rod such that rotation of said rod tightens said waist strap;
• and,
• g. an air source operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said air bladder for operating said air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition.