AU2314692A - Exsanguinating to prepare extremity for anesthetic - Google Patents

Description

"EXSANGUINATING TO PREPARE EXTREMITY FOR ANESTHETIC:

TECHNICAL FIELD

The device and method of this invention relates to a system for driving blood from a patient's body extremity or limb to prepare same for a local anesthetic.

BACKGROUND ART

Many pneumatic sleeves, for different medical purposes, have been disclosed in the art.

Of these it is thought that the device disclosed by Vijil- Resales in U.S. 4,781,181, issued 1 November, 1988 most closely represents the state of the art prior to the instant invention. Specifically, Viji 1-Rosales discloses a device for exsanguinating a limb using several inflatable bladders similar to sphygmometer cuffs which surround the limb. The bladders are inflated to evacuate blood from the limb. This device, although functional, does not reflect on the single inflatable sleeve of the instant invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a simple device to both protect the medical clinician to avoid contact with open wounds or previously e placed intravenous devices on a patient's extremity and to reliably empty the extremity of venous blood with less pain to the patient. The instant invention is essentially a two-piece system, the two pieces being a pneumatic sleeve and a protective undersleeve. The sleeves are flexible to conform to the patient's extremity and the protective undersleeve protects the clinician from infection. The diameter and length of both sleeves are determined by the patient's size so as to be easily applied to the patient's extremity without interfering with open wounds or previously emplaced intravenous devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a broken away axial section view of a pneumatic sleeve that is a component of a system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal axial elevation of an undersleeve that is another component of the system;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified pneumatic sleeve that is a component of a modified system embodying the invention and also showing the modified pneumatic sleeve connected to a source of air pressure, and further showing proximal and distal cuffs.

HODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The inventive system comprises a conformable pneumatic sleeve and a conformable disposable undersleeve.

Pneumatic sleeve 10 FIG. 1 shown and described in its inflated condition, has an inner cylindrical wall 12 and an outer cylindrical wall 14 coaxial with wall 12. Sleeve 10 has an imperforate closed end 16 closing surfaces 12 and 14. Sleeve 10 also has a handle 18 affixed to and protruding from closed end 16. Handle 18 has finger holes 20 which facilitate manipulating sleeve 10 and which also provide means for hanging sleeve 10 from a support. Sleeve 10 is of flexible material such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride elastomer and may contain fabric reinforcement.

Pneumatic sleeve 10 also has an open end 22 at the axial end remote from closed end 16. Inner and outer cylindrical Walls 12 and 14 are sealed together at open end 22, thereby to create an annular sealed chamber 24 between inner and outer cylindrical walls 12 and 14 and extending from closed end 16 to open end 22.

Lastly, pneumatic sleeve 10 has an air valve 26 in outer wall 4 at a location spaced from ends 16 and 22 but somewhat closer to end 22. Valve 26 has a lever 28 that is movable between a closed position and an open position in which sleeve 10 can be inflated or deflated. When deflated sleeve 10 is more or less collapsed for ease of instal lation.

A protective undersleeve 30 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Undersleeve 30 is another component of the system and is also of flexible material such as known suitable flexible plastic or elasto eric materials. Undersleeve 30, which is generally cylindrical, is closed at one end 32 and is open at end 34. Undersleeve 30 is disposable.

The system presented by sleeves 10 and 30 is for use in preparing an upper extremity of a patient for local anesthetic. To accomplish this, the proximal and distal cuffs are applied to the patient's extremity nearest the torso. Undersleeve 30 is applied over the extremity and pneumatic sleeve 10 is applied over undersleeve 30. Air is pumped into valve 26 (with lever 28 in the open position) and into sealed chamber 24 to inflate sleeve 10 to a pressure in excess of the pressure of the venous blood to drive the same from the extremity. When venous blood is driven from the patient's extremity, the proximal and distal cuffs are inflated to disrupt arterial blood flow. Pneumatic sleeve 10 is deflated. It and undersleeve 30 are removed prior to administration of local anesthetic, such as a Bier Block.

As mentioned, sleeves 10 and 30 are flexible and thus conform readily to the extremity, while protective undersleeve 30 protects the clinician from infection. Also, the inventive system appears to offer significant saving in clinicians' time, more reliable emptying of venous blood together with less pain to the patient.

FIG. 3 shows a modified pneumatic sleeve 50 man parts of which are the same as corresponding parts of pneumatic sleeve 10, the parts bearing the same reference numerals being the same.

FIG. 3 also illustrates well known proximal 52 and distal cuffs 54. Each of cuffs 52 and 54 has two inlets/outlets 56 in the form of protruding tubes. Inlets/outlets 56 are controlled by a monitor/pressure machine (not shown). The patient's extremity is raised, proximal cuff 52 is placed and distal cuff 54 is placed.

Disposable undersleeve 30 is pulled over the patient's extremity and pneumatic sleeve 50 is pulled over undersleeve 30 and inflated by pumping air through a hose 58 and through valve 26 and into sealed chamber 24.

Pneumatic sleeve 50 is provided with a pair of slits 60 that are parallel to the axis of sleeve 50 and in open communication with open end 22 and adapted to receive therein inlets/outlets 56 of cuffs 52 and 54, with an inlet/outlet 56 of each of cuffs 52 and 54 being in each slit 60, and with pneumatic sleeve 50 covering cuffs 52 and 54. Pneumatic sleeve 50 is also provided with two flaps 62 with hook and loop fastener thereon. Complementary hook- and loop elements 64 are provided on pneumatic sleeve 50 to engage the hook and loop fasteners on flaps 62 to hold pneumatic sleeve 50 in surrounding relationship with cuffs 52 and 54. Flaps 62 are spaced from each other, so that inlets/outlets 56 of proximal cuff 52 will lie between flaps 62 when flaps 62 are in engagement with complementary hook and loop elements 64.

After pneumatic sleeve 50 is inflated as aforesaid, forcing the venous blood from the extremity, the proximal and distal cuffs are inflated to disrupt arterial blood flow. When this is complete the pneumatic sleeve 50 and undersleeve 30 are removed. Local anesthetic is then infused to effect a Bier Block.

It is evident that the inventive system attains the stated objects and advantages, among others.

The disclosed details are exemplary only and are not to be taken as limitations on the invention, except as those details may be included in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. Claim 1 A two piece pneumatic system for driving venous blood from a patient's body extremity to prepare same for local anesthetic, said system comprising a flexible, disposable conformable undersleeve (30) and a reusable conformable pneumatic outer sleeve (10), both said undersleeve and said outer sleeves being closed at one end (32,16) and open at the other end (34,22) for receiving said patient's extremity, said inner sleeve acting to cover said patient's extremity to protect a clinician from infection, said pneumatic outer sleeve being provided with a handle with holes (20) whereby it can be manipulated and hung from a support, said pneumatic sleeve having an inner wall (12) and an outer wall (14) with a sealed annular chamber (24) therebetween and an air valve (26) in said outer wall for introducing and removing air from said sealed annular chamber to inflate said annular chamber to drive blood from said patient's extremity and to deflate said annular chamber to ease the removal of said pneumatic sleeve when venous blood has been driven from said extremity.

   Claim 2 A system according to Claim 1 for use with a proximal cuff (52) and a distal cuff (54), said pneumatic sleeve having a pair of slits (60) parallel to its axis and in open communication with said open end (22) of said pneumatic sleeve, said slits adapted to receive therein tubular inlets/outlets (56) of the proximal cuff and the distal cuff and said pneumatic sleeve also having two flaps (62) with hook and loop fasteners thereon and complementary hook and loop (64) elements on the exterior of said outer wall to engage the hook and loop fasteners on said flaps, thereby to hold said pneumatic sleeve in surrounding relationship with said proximal cuff and said distal cuff. Claim 3 A system according to Claim 1 wherein said undersleeve and said pneumatic outer sleeve are made from elastomeric materials.

   Claim 4 A system according to Claim 1 wherein said undersleeve and said pneumatic outer sleeve are made from flexible plastic materials.

   Claim 5 A method in combination with the system according to Claim 1 to remove venous blood from a patient's extremity and to protect the administering clinician from contact with said extremity prior to the administration of anesthetic which comprises applying a tourniquet such as inflatable proximal (52) and said distal cuffs (54) on said patient's extremity nearest the torso; applying said flexible plastic undersleeve (30) over said extremity below said proximal and distal cuffs; applying said pneumatic sleeve (50) over said undersleeve; pressurizing and inflating said pneumatic sleeve to a pressure in excess of the pressure of said venous blood thereby draining the same from the extremity, inflating said proximal (52) and distal cuffs (54) to disrupt arterial blood, deflating said pneumatic sleeve (50), removing said deflated pneumatic sleeve and removing said undersleeve, said extremity now being ready for the administration of anesthetic .