Portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet with supplemental tensioning means
Inventors
Croushorn, John M • Schwartz, Richard • WESTMORELAND, Ted
Assignees
Publication Number
US-9149280-B2
Publication Date
2015-10-06
Expiration Date
2028-04-30
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Abstract
A portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet for occlusion of the abdominal descending aorta to restrict blood supply to a non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in or below the inguinal region is presented. The tourniquet includes an adjustable waist strap for securing it around the abdomen of a patient and a windlass rod connected to the waist strap to selectively tighten the strap as needed to tightly secure it to patient. A directed air bladder is mounted to the waist strap having a generally “V” shaped construction and is expanded for exerting directed pressure against the abdomen. Upon inflation of the air bladder and adjustment of the windlass, occlusion or restriction of blood flow through the abdominal descending aorta will occur which will achieve cessation of hemorrhage in or below the inguinal area or achieve other therapeutic effects like elevated blood pressure to enhance CPR or blood flow control to the lower extremities.
Core Innovation
The invention is a portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet designed for occlusion of the abdominal descending aorta to restrict blood supply to a non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in or below the inguinal region. It comprises an adjustable waist strap to secure it around a patient's abdomen, a rigid base plate wider than the strap for stability, and a directed air bladder with a "V" shaped construction mounted on the base plate. The air bladder inflates to exert directed and focused pressure against the abdomen to occlude or restrict blood flow through the abdominal aorta. A windlass rod connected to the strap allows selective tightening to ensure effective occlusion.
The problem addressed by the invention is the difficulty in providing an effective portable abdominal aortic tourniquet that applies a focused compression force over the targeted area of the abdomen to achieve aorta occlusion. Previous tourniquets typically applied broad circumferential pressure around limbs, which was ineffective for the deep anatomy of the abdominal aorta. Non-compressible arterial hemorrhages, such as those resulting from severe battlefield injuries, require strong focused pressure to stop bleeding by occluding the descending aorta proximal to its bifurcation. Prior art devices either lacked a directed shape or mechanical means to tighten sufficiently, failing to occlude the aorta efficiently.
The invention provides a combination of a focused, generally "V" shaped inflatable air bladder with a mechanical tensioning system resembling a windlass rod to rapidly and securely tighten the tourniquet around the abdomen. It includes features such as a protective bladder sleeve to resist puncture, a foam pad for cushioning when deflated, and an air source operatively connected to the bladder (e.g., a compressed gas cartridge or manual bulb pump). The base plate stabilizes the bladder over a selected pressure point on the abdomen, and the tensioning mechanism allows further tightening after inflation to ensure aortic occlusion, resulting in cessation of hemorrhage or other therapeutic effects like improving CPR efficacy.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a method of applying the abdominal aortic tourniquet, the tourniquet apparatus itself, and methods for using it to achieve hemostasis in bleeding below the inguinal region. The main inventive features involve the structure and operation of the adjustable waist strap, base plate, directed V-shaped air bladder, air source, and mechanical tensioning mechanism.
Adjustable waist strap and stable base plate
The tourniquet includes an adjustable waist strap for securing around the abdomen and a wider rigid base plate carried by the strap that extends laterally to provide a stable base for positioning over the abdominal aorta or selected pressure point.
Directed elongated V-shaped air bladder
A directed air bladder with a generally elongated "V" or cuneiform shape is mounted on the bottom side of the base plate, having a wide end near the plate and a narrow converging elongated edge that presses against the abdomen to focus constricting force and penetrate to occlude the abdominal aorta when inflated.
Air source and inflation control system
An air source such as a compressed gas cartridge or manual bulb pump is operatively connected to the air bladder via an inflation control valve, including a pressure relief valve and an elbow connector for fluid communication and profile optimization. This system enables controlled inflation and deflation of the air bladder.
Mechanical tensioning means with windlass rod and retention
A mechanical tensioning means comparable to a windlass rod is connected to the waist strap allowing the user to tighten the strap further after air bladder inflation. Rotation of the windlass rod tightens the strap, and a retention means secures the rod in position to maintain tension and ensure effective aortic occlusion.
Additional structural and operational features
The tourniquet may include a foam pad between the base plate and air bladder for cushioning, a protective bladder sleeve to resist puncture, guide markers on the base plate to aid correct positioning over the aorta, and a multi-panel shroud arrangement supporting the windlass and guiding the strap for ease and rapid deployment.
Together, the inventive features form a portable abdominal aortic tourniquet system that provides a focused inflation bladder and mechanical tightening means to strongly and selectively occlude the abdominal aorta above the inguinal region, enabling rapid hemostasis in non-compressible arterial hemorrhages and other therapeutic effects.
Stated Advantages
Rapid deployment under field trauma conditions where timing is critical for survival.
Focused and directed pressure enabling effective occlusion of the deeply located abdominal aorta.
Combination of pneumatic inflation and mechanical tensioning to ensure sufficient constricting force.
Reduced risk of accidental deflation using protected air source connections and low-profile design.
Cushioning for patient comfort before inflation and protection of bladder from environmental damage.
Adjustable and secure positioning to align properly over the aorta using guide markers.
Applicability for controlling blood flow not only for hemorrhage cessation but also to elevate blood pressure or improve CPR.
Documented Applications
Stopping non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in or below the inguinal region, such as gross battlefield wounds including leg amputations or high velocity bullet wounds.
Restricting blood flow through the abdominal descending aorta to achieve hemostasis at injury sites below the application point.
Therapeutic applications such as elevating blood pressure to enhance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by preventing blood from leaving the patient's core.
Reducing blood flow to lower extremities during various medical procedures.
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