Rapidly deployable emergency tourniquet

Abstract

A rapidly deployable tourniquet is provided which includes: a strap configured to be placed around a limb; a tension mechanism configured to store energy; and an activation mechanism in operable communication with the tension mechanism, wherein operation of the activation mechanism is configured to release the energy stored in the tension mechanism to tighten the strap around the limb to a degree that is effective to reduce blood flow through the limb to reduce or eliminate hemorrhage therefrom. In one embodiment, the tension mechanism includes a spool and a pre-tensioned spring operably connected to the spool, wherein operation of the activation mechanism is configured to release the pre-tensioned spring to effectuate rotation of the spool to tighten the strap.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.