US2258720A - Tourniquet - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1941. E, g, SAIGHMAN 1 2,258,720-

4TOURNIQUE'I Filled Deo. 5o, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 20 5g y zz .55 7% 2 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

')ct. 14, 1941: E. s. sAlGHMAN 2,258,720

i TOURNIQUET Filed Deo. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /llllllllll f INVENTOR,

Ma/'af fsvy/Wa/z ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNiTED STATES PAT sur i oFFrcE 81' Claims.

This invention relatesv to improvements in tourniquets and particularly to an appliance for, retarding, with only a slight pressure, the. flow. of the venous blood and the lymph secretions in their tubular, superficial trunk vessels and in their chains of minor vessels located in the supercial fleshy portion of the body.

Most of the flexible type tourniquetsy now inv use are so constructed as to depend for their effective restriction of the fluid flow in the vessels on the applied tensile strain throughoutthe length of the tourniquet, to cause a constrictive pressure sufficiently to completely retard the flow of blood of the venous and arterial vessels and also the lymph of the lymphatic system.. This common form of tourniquet is also constructed to permit of a quick release of the con-1 strictive pressure after certain corrective requirementshave been met. The tourniquets now being used areV usually maintained under a. high tensile strain thereby eliminating to a large degree, the` pliability and extensibility of the cushion member to conform to the contour of.

the body member to eliminate its ability toexert4 therethrough without affecting to any markedy degree, the flow of blood through the arterial vessels which are subject to a much higher intornai pressure.`

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tourniquet having an elongated, elastic body member having one of its longitudinal surface portions of greater density than that of its other longitudinal surface portion, whereby a diierential of tensile strength at the opposite sides of the elongated body member is obtained.

A further object is the provision of a tourniquet of the type described wherein the outer portion of the tourniquet member is subjected to a tensile strain while the inner portion thereof, is substantially free from tensile strain.

A stilll further object of this invention is the provision of a tourniquet having an elongated body member and a relatively thick cushion member secured under compression thereto. y

A yet further object of this invention is the (Cl. 12S- 327) provision of a tourniquet having an elastcbody member adapted to extend around a body andto'. be secured, under. tension,l and an elastic cushion.l member securedY as a liner to. said body member and adapted to be normally maintained under compression by the body member.`

Further objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease of adjustment and Operation, and adaptability to conform to the irregular contour of the body to effectually compress the soft` lumens thereby producing hy-peraemia by an inward pressure and with al minimum of constrictive actionv to the, body portion.

Due to the decreasevofv constrictive pressure, necessary to produce a hyperaemia of the softer vessels as described, above, it. is possible for the patient to wear this tourniquet for a long period, of time without experiencing any material dis.-A comfort. With theseobjects as well as others.. whichwill appear during thecourse of the speciicationv in View,` reference will now be hadv to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tournquety embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a stretch-out of the tourniquet in the, process of construction before the cover tube has been turned to cover thev cushion member.

Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal sectional View of the tourniquet. 30 Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig.. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken 0n line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 isv a plan View of the tourniquet eX-\ 35 tended. y I Fig. 'T is an enlarged plan view of the tourniquet fo'reshortened and partially sectioned to. disclose the inner construction.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of the tourniquet. 40 showing a modified form of the fastening means.

Fig. 9. is an enlarged sectional View taken onr line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 isY a longitudinal sectional View show-v ing a modiiied form of a tourniquet.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line` XI-XI of Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View of the tourniquet shown in Fig. 10, with the parts extended.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View of a portion of a modified form of the tourniquet.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken cn line XIV-XIV of Fig'. 13. y

Fig- 15 is an edge elevation of the disassembled 55 parts of a modified form of tourniquet; and,

Fig. 16 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 15, after one of the members has been compressed and secured to the other member.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters refer to similar parts and the numeral 20 designates an elongated body member, preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber, and having a relatively high tensile strength. In certain instances it might be possible to make this body member of a substantially nonelastic material such as fabricated cloth.

Secured to the one face of the body member 20 is a cushion member 22. While substantially any cushioning material might be used in the construction of this member, however a sponge rubber has been found most suitable because of its resilient and compressive qualities which permit it to function in the desired manner.

As shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that cushion member 22 is secured in undulated form to body member 2l] at 24 by means of an adhesive; however, stitching or any other of the well-known fastening means might be substituted therefor.

It has been found very desirable in the use of this tourniquet to have a suitable covering for protecting cushion member 22 and to present a smooth, soft surface for contacting the body. This covering consists of a tubular member 25 made of a lightweight elastic rubber of relatively low tensile strength. In the manufacture of this tourniquet, the tubular member covering is positioned in the following manner:

Body member 20 is secured by means of an adhesive to one side of tube 26, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and then the cushion member is secured to 20 as described above. After these operations, tube 26 is turned inside-out to cover the tourniquet parts, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

While in many cases the tourniquet will be secured in position about the body member by simply tying together the free ends thereof, yet, in view of the fact that this tourniquet is used for regulating the iiow of fluid through certain of the superficial vessels of the body, it has been found desirable to provide an adjustable fastening whereby the tensioning of the tourniquet may be definitely determined and maintained. For this purpose a resilient U-shaped member 28 with rebent end portions 30, is adapted to be positioned through openings 32 formed in tube 26 to contact body member 2l] and to be secured thereto by means of an adhesive 34. The closed end of this U-shaped member 28 projects outwardly beyond the end of the tourniquet and is provided along its outer edges with notched teeth 36. It is very apparent that this resilient member may be compressed at its inner ends to cause a relative movement of the extended arms thereof.

The opposite end of the tourniquet is provided with a sleeve 38 having inwardly projecting tongues 40 for engaging teeth 36 when member 2S is inserted therein. This sleeve 38 is secured to the tubular member 26 and also to body member 2D. It is deemed advisable that these two interengaging members 28 and 38 be anchored to the body member 2D of the tourniquet since tubular member 25 is not depended upon to have sulicient tensile strength to cause a proper operation of the cushion member against the surface.

Referring to Fig. 3 which shows the tourniquet with parts 28 and 22 in the normal position, it is apparent that when body member 20 is extended by a tensile force, the cushioning member may be moved to its normal stretched out position without producing any tensile strain therein. This feature is very important since in the use of this tourniquet it is desirable to retain all of the pliability of the cushion member and this cannot be accomplished when a tensile strain is exerted to stretch said cushioning member.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be noted that the tourniquet cover tube 25 terminates at 42 while the body member 20 extends therebeyond and passes over a longitudinally serrated tubular member 44 carried by the U-shaped ear member 46 and secured against rotation thereon by means of pins 48. This U-shaped member 46 is provided with rebent arm portions 50 which are extended through openings 52 formed in tubular member 26 and are attached to body member 2D by means of an adhesive 54. The extended end of body member 2U is suiciently long to extend beneath the end portion of the tourniquet and against the body member being operated upon, thereby insuring in combination with the serrated tubular member 44, a secure anchoring together of the extremities of the tourniquet. Y

The modified form of tourniquet shown in Figs. 10, l1 and 12, contemplates the use of body member 20 to which is attached a cushion member 56 by means of a suitable adhesive at spaced apart points 58. It will be noted that cushion member 56 is provided with slits 60 intermediate each of the attaching points. These slits extend from the inner portion of cushion 56 to a point spaced apart from the outer surface thereof so that when the tourniquet is in position about a member of the body, and the body member is extended, the slits will be opened as indicated at 52, while the inner surface of the cushion member will maintain an unbroken contact against the member of the body.`

A further modification, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, provides a body member 20 to which is secured a cushion member. This cushion member is slit at 66. These slits extend inwardly from the outer surface thereof to a point spaced apart from its inner surface.` This construction functions to allow a more definite differential of downward pressure of adjacent portions of the pressure member. This is due to the fact that the adjacent portions of the cushion member at slits 66, may be relatively offset.

A further modification of the present invention is produced by uniting the two members 20 and 68 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 15 shows the body member 20 and cushion member 68 in their normal positions, while Fig. 16 shows the cushion member compressed and secured in any suitable manner to body member 2 0. When so constructed the cushion member will normally be under pressure but may be extended to its normal position or therebeyond by exerting a sufficient force to extend body member 2B. This type tourniquet is similar to that shown in the preferred form and has the added feature of securing the cushion member throughout its entire length.

It is very apparent that the tourniquet described above, provides for a cushioning member which may be applied to control the flow of venous blood and lymph adjacent the surface cf the body member without materially affecting the arterial vessels. This type of tourniquet for the control of the said uids, is very benecial in treating many of the well-known skin infections.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tourniquet comprising a pliable elastic band, a relatively thick elastic cushion member of substantially uniform thickness secured in undulated form at spaced apart points to said band, and means whereby the end portions of said elongated member are secured together with said band elongated about a limb of a human body to cause said cushion member while under longitudinal compression to press against said limb.

2. A tourniquet comprising an elongated tubular member encasing a body member of relatively high tensile strength to one side of which is attached at spaced apart points an undulated cushion member, an inwardly toothed annular member secured to one end of said body member, and a resilient, toothed member carried by the other end of said body member and adapted to be inserted into said toothed annular member to secure the end portions of said body member together.

3. A tourniquet comprising a pliable elongated elastic body member, a relatively thick elastic cushion member secured in an undulated position at spaced apart intervals to one side of said elongated member and adapted to be moved to its normal extended position when said elongated member is stretched to an abnormal length by a predetermined force, a toothed annular member carried by one end of said body member, and a toothed member carried by the other end of said body member and adapted to be inserted into said toothed annular member to secure the end portions of said body member together.

4. A tourniquet comprising an elongated pliable elastic body member, a relatively thick elastic cushion member secured in an undulated position at spaced apart intervals along one side of said body member and adapted to be extended to its normal extended position when said elongated member is stretched to an abnormal length by a predetermined force, an elastic tubular member covering said elongated member and cushion member, and means 1for releasably securing together the extremities of Said elongated body member whereby said vbody member is held in a stretched out position.

5. A tourniquet comprising an elongated, elastic body member, having attached thereto in undulated form an elongated cushion member of relatively low tensile strength, an inwardly toothed annular member secured to one end of said body member, and a resilient toothed member carried by the other end of said body member and-adapted to be inserted into said toothed annular member to secure the end portions of said body member together.

6. A tourniquet comprising an elastic body member of relatively high tensile strength; a relatively thick elastic cushion member of relatively low tensile strength, secured in undulated position at spaced apart intervals to one side of said elongated member and adapted to be moved to its normal extended position when said body member is stretched to an abnormal length by a predetermined force; and means interconnecting the end portions of said body member whereby it is secured in an extended position about an encircled body member.

7. A tourniquet comprising an elongated, elastic body member of relatively high tensile strength; an elastic cushion member of uniform thickness and of relatively 10W tensile strength, secured in undulated position at spaced apart intervals to one side of said body member, and adapted to be stretched to its normal position, when said body member is stretched to an abnormal length; and means secured to said body member whereby the opposite end portions thereof are secured together when the tourniquet is secured about a member.

8. A tourniquet comprising an elongated tubular member encasing an undulated cushion member of uniform thickness having one longitudinal side portion thereof secured to a body member of relatively greater tensile strength than said cushion member; a toothed member secured to one end of said body member, and a toothed member carried by the other end of said body member whereby the tourniquet may be secured under tension about a body member.

' EDWARD S. SAIGHMAN.

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