GB2081584A

GB2081584A - Tourniquet-like ligature device

Info

Publication number: GB2081584A
Application number: GB8121884A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DROOF HEINZ
Current assignee: DROOF HEINZ
Priority date: 1980-08-09
Filing date: 1981-07-16
Publication date: 1982-02-24
Also published as: FR2488126A1; AU7335081A; DE3030251A1; SE8104744L

Abstract

A ligature device (1) for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts (2) of the body, having a band (3) forming a loop (4) by means of a lock casing (5) through which the loop (4) can be contracted and secured in the contracted condition, is characterised in that the band (3) is provided at its surface facing the body part (2) within the limits of the loop (4) with at least one narrow rib of limited length which extends parallel to the edge of the band (3) and the lower edge (7) of which, as seen in front elevation, is curved inwards. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two side-by-side spaced ribs (6a) connected to one another by a cross-member, wherein the ribs 6a and cross-member, when considered in cross-section, form a U-shaped housing (10), the side walls of which form the ribs (6a) and the U-shaped housing (10) being detachably connected to the band 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ligature device for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts of the body The invention relates to a ligature device for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts of the body, having a band forming a loop by means of a lock casing through which the loop can be contracted and secured in the contracted condition.

The purpose of known tourniquet devices of this kind, in which the loop encompasses the body part in close contact with it at all points, is to constrict the limb completely for a short time and ligature it in order, for example, to set a syringe orto be able to check the blood pressure and the like. Moreover, the band is relatively narrow, for example, approximately 30mm in width. It is resilient longitudinally in order to achieve a continuously smooth reduction in blood pressure during slackening and an even rate of increase in force during tightening of the band.

There are occasions, for example in the case of injuries or the like, in which a definite point on the body part, for example an artery or the like, has to be kept tied off in consequence of lesion in order that an undue loss of blood is avoided until the doctor can treat the point of injury. When using ligatures known hitherto, in the case of which the body part is firmly constricted all around by the loop and the whole body part is subject to a stagnation effect, the loop had to be loosened again from time to time in order that the ligatured body part can be supplied with fresh blood so as to prevent dying down of the ligatured body part.During the time that the loop is loosened there is, however, the danger that the loss of blood at the point of injury is excessive, apart from the fact that the loop would have to be manipulated repeatedly at short intervals, which involves discomforts for the injured person.

The object of the invention is to provide a ligature device of the kind stated with which it is made poss isle to keep local points of limited area at the body part under constriction and stagnation effect, while the other points at the periphery of the body parts which are engaged at the same time by the loop, still permit a passage of the blood through the vessels.

The ligature device of the kind initially stated is distinguished according to the invention in that the band is provided at its surface facing the body part within the limits of the loop with at least one narrow rib which extends parallel to the edge of the band and the lower edge of which, as seen in front elevation, is curved inwards.

Owing to the forming of the ligature device with at lease one rib extending longitudinally of the band, the ligature can be applied even in cases in which a locally limited point at the periphery of the body part has to be kept constricted and tied off, whilst, however, the other parts at the periphery of the loop remain free from a complete tying off. For example, in accidents where an artery has been damaged, the artery can be completely obstructed over the length limited by the rib, so that any noticeable loss of blood is prevented. On the other hand, at the other points at the periphery of the body part where the rib is not available, the surface pressure of the band of the loop is kept so light that the supply with blood of the body part downstream of the ligature is not compromised.The narrow rib, which may have a width of about 3-4mm, produces at the localised point such a specific surface pressure that a complete stagnation effect is ensured, the other body parts being under a considerably lesser surface pressure through the loop so that the passage of blood is not prevented at these points. The ligature device according to the invention allows the person concerned to be protected by simple means from a harmful loss of blood, for example during the time of transportation, until medical treatment can take place. The narrow rib, of limited length of about 5-8mm, may be firmly united with the belt, for example fixed by adhesive or by sewing it on. It is preferably composed of plastics material and preferably has a certain elasticity.

According to a further feature of the invention there are provided two side-by-side spaced ribs which are interconnected by a mounting support. In a further development of the invention, provision is made for the ribs and the mounting, considered in cross-section, to form a U-shaped housing, the sides of which are formed by the ribs, the housing being detachably connected with the band. Through such a formation of the ligature device, it is made possible for the ligature device to be employed for normal cases, that is for temporary obstruction and also selectively for the cases previously described. Owing to the ribs being arranged spaced from one another and interconnected by a mounting, ribs and mounting may be formed as an independenf part.The consequence of doing this is that there is a U-shaped clamp which can straightforwardly be placed easily and fast against slippage at the respective part of the body. Displacement of the ribs is prevented during tightening of the loop. The application of the ligature device for the purpose in conformity with the invention is simple and reliable.

It is further provided according to the invention that the ribs, i.e. the side walls of the housing which form the ribs, are of such height that a clearance of precise depth is formed by the U-shaped housing.

This laterally-limited clearance over the point of construction advantageously curves to accommodate blood-absorbing material, such as cotton wool, compresses, layers of cellulose, non-woven fabric and the like, in orderto entrap the blood more or less discharged and to sustain an additional leakage of blood from the injured artery or the like.

The connection of the band with the U-shaped housing may take place through unconfined tongues at the ends of the cover plate of the housing, these tongues serving for mounting the band extending over said cover plate. In this way, the band can be connected to the housing for ready detachment therefrom. The attachment of the band to the housing basically by threading it on from the side is facilitated. The U-shaped housing, i.e. the side faces acting as ribs, can exert pressure upon the body part with the help of the loop portion of the band.

The U-shaped housing is preferably of transparent material, for example clear plastics material. In this way, insight into the clearance is between the ribs ensured whilst the ligature is being applied and an efficient check can be made of the position and con dition of the blood-absorbing material contained therein.

The curved path of the lower edges of the side walls acting as ribs should show a relatively slight curvature in order that a significant pressing into the flesh of the body part is avoided. The extremities of the arc are preferably rounded off. The band itself preferably has a width of about 50-60mm and is formed to be extensible in the longitudinal direction.

Thus, the constricting effect of the parts of the band loop clear of the ribs is largely out of the question owing to the smoother increase in force.

According to a further feature of the invention, the U-shaped housing, which is detachable from the band, can also be used as a holding member for the band when wound around the lock casing, the wound band being inserted into the housing. In this case, there may be provided a snap connection through which the lock casing wrapped by the band and the U-shaped housing are held together. To this end, for example, parts of the lock casing may engage with a snap action in recesses in the side walls of the U-shaped housing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically and in perspective, a simplified specific embodiment of the ligature device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a further preferred specific embodiment of the ligature device according to the invention, in use on a body part; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate diagrammatically one specific form of the U-shaped housing in Fig. 2, separately, in front elevation, plan and end elevation in the direction of the arrow V of Fig. 3, respectively; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the combination into a single unit of the ligature device with the band wrapped round it and the U-shaped housing.

The ligature device 1 for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts 2 of the body, for example arms, legs or the like, includes a band 3 for forming a loop 4 by means of a lock casing 5, through which the loop 4 can be tightened, the loop being secured in the tightened condition by the lock casing 5. The lock casing 5 is preferably constructed so that the loop can be slackened off and opened all at once as well as dilatorily by means of a push-button or the like.

In order to accomplish a stagnation effect at a local point of a body part with the loop of the band 3, a narrow rib 6 disposed parallel to the edge of the band is provided on the surface of the band facing towards the body, said rib being limited in length and its lower edge describing an inwardly-directed curve 7. Such a rib may be detachably fitted by a sole portion 8 to the inner side of the band 3, for example through a press-stud connection or the like. The rib 6, 7 is disposed perpendicular or nearly perpendicularto the inner surface of the band 3 and also to the peripheral area of the body part around which the loop of the band is placed.By this means, an injured artery or the like can be constricted and stagnated efficiently and reliably without the other areas of the body part engaged by the loop being constricted in such a way asto cut off further serving with blood.

There is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 a further, prefer red specific embodiment of the ligature device with use of a narrow rib of limited length on the band. In this device, there are two ribs 6a which are arranged at a predetermined spacing from one another and are rigidly interconnected by a cross-member 9. This results in a U-shaped housing 10, the side walls 6aof which perform the function of the ribs of limited length. The ribs 6a with the curved shape of the lower edge 7 have rounded-off end portions 11, that a local indenting into the skin is avoided while the housing 10 is set up on the body part.Projecting tongues 12 are provided on the upper surface of the cover 9 of the U-shaped housing 10 to connect the ~band 3 with the housing 10, in such a way that there is formed a slot 13 open at one end, through which the band 3 can be insertedfrom the side so that it comes to lie on the surface 9 of the U-shaped hous ing 10.

The U-shaped housing 10 is preferably a plastics component of transparent material, so that the inside space 14 can be looked into from the outside.

The thickness of the edges of the ribs 6, 6a may amount to about 3-4mm, whereby biting of the edges into the skin is prevented. With this, the edge faces considered in profile may be formed rounded off. The width of the band 3 is kept relatively large and may amount to about 50-60mm, so that, at the loop of the band, the pressure per unit of area of the band relative to the pressure per unit of area of the ribs is so small that the extent of the body part not engaged by the ribs, does not interrupt continuous through-flow of blood during constriction. The radius for the arc 7 should be kept relatively large.

The radius is preferably not less than 70mm.

The height of the ribs 6, 6a is selected sufficiently large that there results between the ribs 6, 6a and the band, or upper part 9 of the U-shaped housing 10, a clearance 14 which renders possible the insertion and accommodation of suppressing and absorbent material for blood. The inside clearance 14 has pref erably an unrestricted height of at least about 20mm.

As shown in Fig. 2, the U-shaped housing 10 with the ribs 6a is pressed by the band loop 4 against the body part 2 so that there is a constriction and stagna- tion effect only along the ribs 6a. The U-shaped housing 10 is preferably put on in such a way that the injured point at the part of the body is situated in the space 14 between the two ribs 6a. On the one hand, the blood supply to the injured point is shut off firmly and reliably through constriction by the one rib 6a. The other rib6a of the housing 10 serves for defining the space for the blood-absorption material, such as cotton wool, cellulose, non-woven fabric or the like. A body part treated in this way must remain constricted until medical treatment is available, without there being the danger of the treated body part being starved ofbloodwhilsttheligatureis applied.

The U-shaped housing 10 is preferably employed for storing the ligature device, i.e. the lock casing 5 with the band 3 wrapped therearound. The band package is inserted into the open side of the U-shaped housing 10, a snap device being provided in the U-shaped housing 10 for retaining the band package. The snap device may be formed, for example, by providing the ribs 6a with a recess 15 into which the end portions of the lock casing 5 engage with a snap action. In this way, the ligature device and U-shaped housing form a compact, portable unit.

Claims

1. A ligature device for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts of the body, having a band forming a loop by means of a lock casing through which the loop can be contracted and secured in the contracted condition, characterised in that the band is provided at its surface facing the body part within the limits of the loop with at least one narrow rib of limited length which extends parallel to the edge ofthe band and the lower edge of which, as seen in front elevation is curved inwards.

2. A ligature device according to claim 1, characterised in that two side-by-side spaced ribs are provided, and are connected to each other by a mounting support.

3. A ligature device according to claim 1 or2, characterised in that the ribs and the mounting support considered in cross-section, form a U-shaped housing, the side walls of which form the ribs, and the U-shaped housing is detachably connected with the band.

4. A ligature device according to claim 3, characterised in that the ribs, or the side walls of the housing are of such height that a clearance of precise depth is formed by the U-shaped housing for the accommodation of blood-absorbing material, such as cotton wool, compresses and the like.

5. A ligature device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the U-shaped housing has at the ends its cover surface tongues for mounting a band which extends over the cover surface.

6. A ligature device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the U-shaped housing is of transparent material, such as a clear plastics material, the curvature of the ribs is of radius at Ieast70mm, and the extremities of the arc are rounded off.

7. A ligature device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the band has a width of about 50-70mm and is formed to be extensible only in the longitudinal direction.

8. A ligature device according to claim 3 and any one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the side walls or ribs of the U-shaped housing are provided with recesses to engage the lock casing by a snap action with the ligature device.

9. A ligature device for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts of the body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A ligature device for accomplishing stagnation effects at parts of the body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.