GB2464989A

GB2464989A - Tourniquet with adjustable fixing means

Info

Publication number: GB2464989A
Application number: GB0820117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brett Hughes; Caroline Redmond
Original assignee: Vygon SA
Current assignee: Vygon SA
Priority date: 2008-11-03
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Also published as: GB0820117D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a tourniquet which can be applied and removed quickly and easily. The tourniquet comprises a latex-free strip (10) having ajustable fixing means for forming the strip into a closed loop. The fixing means comprises a plurality of holes (20) and a protrusion (30) having a cylindrical portion (32) and a truncated-spherical portion. The fixing means allows a medical technician to apply the tourniquet to any patient at the desired tension and quickly and easily remove the tourniquet with one hand by engaging or disengaging the protrusion (30) in one of the plurality of holes (20). The tourniquet is disposable, reduces the risk of contamination between technician and patient, and is formed from a reduced allergy latex-free material.

Description

TOURNIQUET

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to medical tourniquets that can be used to restrict blood flow when carrying out vein puncture.

Background to the Invention

Medical technicians use tourniquets when they are required to carry Out a procedure such as taking a blood sample, carrying out an intravenous procedure, inserting a catheter, etc. Historically, a tourniquet has consisted of a plain strip of material which is placed around the upper third of the patients arm. The strip of material is then tightened around the arm and fastened using a knot in order to restrict the flow of blood. This restriction then causes the vein to obtrude from the skin providing the medical technician with an access site to perform the procedure required. A disadvantage of these types of tourniquets is that when the technician is tying the knot to restrict the blood flow, it is very easy for him to over tighten the tourniquet which will cause the patient discomfort and may also cause tissue damage. In addition, these types of tourniquets are difficult to remove quickly. These types of tourniquets are also generally reusable and are very rarely changed. This leads to a risk of cross infection between the medical technician and patient, via the tourniquet.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tourniquet which gives the technician an improved control over the amount of pressure applied, and allows the tourniquet to be removed quickly and easily. There is also a need for an improved tourniquet which reduces the likelihood of cross infection between the users via the tourniquet.

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides a tourniquet comprising: an elongate strip having: an elongate axis, a first end and a second end, and a plurality of holes extending through the strip, wherein the plurality of holes are spaced apart along the elongate axis of the strip from the first end towards the second end, and further comprising a protrusion positioned near the second end of the strip for extending through any of the plurality of holes to form the elongate strip into a ioop.

The plurality of holes allows the technician the freedom to choose the size of the tourniquet depending on the size of the patient. The plurality of holes may extend in a straight line. The plurality of holes may be equally spaced along a straight line.

The protrusion allows the technician to form a tourniquet of a desired size. The protrusion and plurality of holes also allow the technician to be able to release the tourniquet quickly and easily with one hand, if required. The protrusion may comprise a button for extending through any of the plurality of holes. The protrusion may comprise a spherical or truncated-spherical portion. The truncated-spherical portion may comprise a hemisphere. The spherical or truncated-spherical portion may be connected to a cylindrical portion, a conical portion, or a truncated-conical portion.

The strip may be substantially planar and may have a planar outer face. The strip may be formed from a latex-free material. For example, the material may comprise a latex-free silicone or other elastomeric material. The use of a latex-free material ensures that the risk of an allergic reaction to the tourniquet by both the technician and patient is significantly reduced.

The tourniquet of the present invention is disposable. Therefore, the tourniquet is unlikely to be reused and the risk of cross-infection is significantly reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example, one embodiment of a tourniquet according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a tourniquet according to the present invention, in a first, open, position; Figure 2 shows the tourniquet of figure 1 in a second position; and Figure 3 shows the tourniquet of figures 1 and 2 in a third, closed, position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a tourniquet according to the present invention in a first, unused, open position. The tourniquet comprises a strip 10 formed of a flexible latex-free silicone material. In the embodiment shown, the strip is approximately 25mm wide and 375mm long. However, the tourniquet may be of any size suitable to extend around a limb of a patient. For example, a shorter, paediatric specific tourniquet could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Equally spaced along an elongate axis of the strip 10 are a plurality of holes 20. In the embodiment shown, the holes are spaced approximately 1 lnim apart. However, the holes may be spaced closer together, for example when further precision is required for, for example, a paediatric tourniquet.

Nevertheless, because the holes extend along the length of the tourniquet, the tourniquet of the present embodiment could be used for both adults and children. The plurality of holes are positioned in a line along the elongate axis which extends from a first end 12 towards a second end 14 of the strip 10. The plurality of holes 20 extend through the thickness of the strip 10. The strip is substantially planar and has a planar outer face 16.

Close to the second end 14 of the strip, there is positioned a protrusion 30 which extends in a direction away from the outer face 16 of the strip 10. The protrusion 30 is positioned on the elongate axis of the strip 10.

In use, the strip 10 is wrapped around a patient's limb so that it is arranged in the configuration shown in figure 2.

The strip 10 is then tightened around the limb to apply the desired pressure to the patients' limb and, once the tourniquet has been formed into a loop of the desired size, the first end 12 of the strip 10 is pulled downwards towards the outer face of the strip 10 until the protrusion 30 extends through one of the plurality of holes 20, as shown in figure 3.

The protrusion 30 comprises a first cylindrical portion 32 and a second truncated spherical portion 34 positioned on the first cylindrical portion 32. The maximum diameter of the truncated spherical portion 34 is larger than the diameter of each of the plurality of holes 20, and the diameter of the cylindrical portion 32 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the truncated spherical portion 34 so that the tourniquet is held in its closed position as shown in figure 3 once the truncated-spherical portion 34 of the protrusion 30 has been pushed through one of the holes 20. For example, in the embodiment shown, each of the holes has a diameter of approximately 4mm, and the maximum diameter of the truncated spherical portion is approximately 6mm.

The plurality of holes 20 allow the medical technician to apply a tourniquet of the appropriate size required by the particular patient. Therefore, the strip can be used to form a tourniquet of variable size.

In order to release the tourniquet from the patient's arm, the technician merely pulls the first end 12 of the strip 10 away from the outer face 16 of the strip 10. This procedure can be done quickly and easily using just one hand.

The tourniquet of the present invention is inexpensive and manufactured from a sustainable material. Therefore, it can be used as a single use tourniquet in order to reduce the risk of infection in clinical areas.

The use of a latex free medical grade silicone reduces the chance of either the technician or the patient suffering any allergic reaction to the tourniquet.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described in conjunction with the figures has been described by way of example only, and that alterations or modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A tourniquet comprising: an elongate strip having: an elongate axis, a first end and a second end, and a plurality of holes extending through the strip, wherein the plurality of holes are spaced apart along the elongate axis of the strip from the first end towards the second end, and further comprising: a protrusion positioned close to the second end of the strip for extending through any of the plurality of holes to form the elongate strip into a loop.
2. The tourniquet of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes extend in a straight line along the elongate axis.
3. The tourniquet of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the plurality of holes are equally spaced along the elongate axis.
4. The tourniquet of any preceding claim wherein the protrusion is positioned on the elongate axis.
5. The tourniquet of any preceding claim wherein the protrusion comprises a spherical or truncated-spherical portion, mounted on a cylindrical portion, a conical portion or a truncated-conical portion.
6. The tourniquet of claim 5 wherein the maximum diameter of the spherical or truncated spherical portion is larger than the diameter of each of the plurality of holes.
7. The tourniquet of claim 6 wherein the diameter of the cylindrical portion, conical portion or truncated-conical portion at its intersection with the spherical or truncated-spherical portion is smaller than the maximum diameter of the spherical or truncated spherical portion.
8. The tourniquet of any preceding claim wherein the strip is substantially planar and has a planar outer face.
9. The tourniquet of claim 8 wherein the protrusion extends in a direction away from the outer face of the strip.
10. The tourniquet of any preceding claim wherein the strip is formed from a latex-free material.
11. The tourniquet of claim 10 wherein the latex-free material comprises a latex-free silicone material or other elastomeric material.
12. A tourniquet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.