GB2465373A

GB2465373A - Reusable Tourniquet Device

Info

Publication number: GB2465373A
Application number: GB0820863A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John-Paul Yeomans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-14
Filing date: 2008-11-14
Publication date: 2010-05-19
Also published as: GB0820863D0

Abstract

The device 10 comprises a housing 12, a flexible tourniquet strap 14 extendable from and retractable into the housing 12, and sterilizing liquid 16. The housing 12 has a chamber 20 for receiving the sterilizing liquid 16, and at least part of the tourniquet strap 14 within the housing 12 is in liquid communication with the chamber 20 for sterilization by the sterilizing liquid 16. The device may comprise a spring winding mechanism 30 and wiper elements 34 for removing excess fluid as the strap is extracted from the housing. A buckle 18 may be provided on the strap which is engagable with the housing. The buckle may have a strap release mechanism which when engaged allows movement of the strap in only one direction.

Description

Reusable Tourniquet Device The present invention relates to a reusable tourniquet device.

It is presently common practice in the medical field to use disposable tourniquets to prevent cross-contamination. However, this results in a large amount of wastage and high cost.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided reusable tourniquet device comprises a housing, a flexible tourniquet strap extendable from and retractable into the housing, and sterilising liquid, the housing having a chamber for receiving the sterilising liquid, at least part of the tourniquet strap within the housing being in liquid communication with the chamber for sterilization by the sterilising liquid.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 16, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a reusable tourniquet device, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a housing of the device; Figure 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a buckle of the device; Figure 4 shows sanitizing liquid being inserted into the device; Figure 5 shows wiper elements of the device; and Figures 6a to 6d show the reusable tourniquet device in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a reusable tourniquet device 10 which comprises a housing 12, a flexible tourniquet strap 14, sterilising liquid 16, and a buckle 18. The housing 12 and buckle 18 are typically moulded plastics, and the housing 12 includes a chamber 20 therein for receiving the sterilising liquid 16.

A front edge of the housing 12 includes a male connector element 22 for connection with the buckle 18. A first exterior opening 24 to the housing 12 for receiving the strap 14 is provided in a lower surface behind the male connector element 22. The housing 12 is generally elliptical, and a second exterior opening 26 for accessing the chamber 20 within the housing 12 is provided at or adjacent to an upper rear edge. The second exterior opening 26 is closed by a releasable screw-threaded cap 28.

The strap 14 is elongate and windably receivable within the chamber 20 of the housing 12. A spring winding mechanism 30 is also included within the chamber 20 to allow automatic retraction of the strap 14. The spring winding mechanism 30 includes a user-operable button 32 on an upper surface of the housing 12 to activate the mechanism 30 and to lock the mechanism 30 to prevent winding.

Inside the housing 12, at or adjacent to the first exterior opening 24, two opposing wiper elements 34 are provided for removing sterilising liquid 16 from the strap 14 as it passes.

Each wiper element 34 is pivotably supported by the housing 12 and generally cam shaped, having a tapered wiping edge 36 which projects towards a surface of the strap 14. Each wiper element 34 is spring biased so as to rotate towards the strap 14 as the strap 14 is being extracted. However, each wiper element 34 also includes a stop to prevent excessive movement towards the strap 14 and thus grabbing or binding of the strap 14. The wiper elements 34 are generally in the form of cleat clams.

The wiper element 34 on each side of the strap 14 extends fully across the lateral extent of the strap 14. The wiper elements 34 thus also form a seal for the housing 12, preventing or limiting the discharge of sterilising liquid 16 from the first exterior opening 24.

The buckle 18 includes a female connector element 38 for receiving the male connector element 22 as a snap fit. A user-operable button 40 on the buckle 18 deforms the male connector element 22, allowing extraction and separation of the buckle 18 from the housing 12.

The buckle 18 also includes a strap release mechanism 42 which allows movement of the strap 14 in only a tightening direction. As best shown in Figure 3, as a user-operable button 44 of the strap release mechanism 42 is depressed, a base plate 46 pivots, releasing the strap 14 from binding engagement with an interior edge 48 of the buckle 18. When released, the strap 14 re-engages with the interior edge 48. Due to the angle of engagement, the strap 14 can be pulled through the buckle 18 in one direction for tightening, but cannot be pulled in the other direction for loosening.

To prevent the strap 14 from being fully retracted into the housing 12, a stop 50 is provided at a distal free end. The stop 50, in this embodiment, is a, typically plastics, solid tab 52 having an aperture 54 to accept a finger. However any other suitable kind of stop can be utilised.

In use, refening to Figures 6a to 6d, the housing 12 and buckle 18 are separated by pressing the user-operable button 44 of the female connector element 38 on the buckle 18. A portion of the strap 14 is drawn out of the housing 12 through the first exterior opening 24, and passed around a user's appendage, such as an arm 56. The buckle 18 is then re-engaged with the housing 12, and the tab 52 is pulled to draw the excess strap 14 through the buckle 18 until the strap 14 is tight.

If the strap 14 is pulled too tightly, the strap release mechanism 42 on the buckle 18 is operated by the user to slacken the strap 14.

When finished, the buckle 18 is again released and the tourniquet device 10 is removed from the user. The user-operable button 32 of the spring winding mechanism 30 is pressed, allowing the mechanism to retract the strap 14 back into the housing 12, thus also drawing the buckle 18 back towards the housing 12. Once the strap 14 is retracted, the cap 28 of the second exterior housing 12 is removed and the sterilising liquid 16, typically in the form of sterilising gel, is poured into the chamber 20 of the housing 12.

Since the strap 14 is received in the chamber 20, the sterilising liquid 16 covers the strap 14, resulting in sterilisation and decontamination. Once the chamber 20 is full of sterilising liquid 16, the cap 28 is replaced and the device 10 can be stored with the first exterior opening 24 uppermost to prevent or limit any leakage through the seal of the wiper elements 34.

To be used once again, the sterilising liquid 16 may optionally be first emptied via the second exterior opening 26, and the strap 14 via the released buckle 18 is then simply pulled to a desired length. As the strap 14 passes between the wiper elements 34, the wiping edges 36 pivot towards the major surfaces of the strap 14 and remove any excess sterilising liquid 16 thereon.

Although the strap is preferably impermeable, the strap may be formed from permeable material, allowing the sterilising liquid to be absorbed therein and beneficially sterilising a portion of the user that the tourniquet is in contact with.

The strap is also preferably none elastic.

Although a separate buckle is suggested, this may be dispensed with providing an extracted portion of the strap can be reattached to the housing once passed around a part of a user.

It is preferable that the strap, when fully wound, is entirely or substantially entirely within the chamber of the housing, so that full coverage for an extended length of time by the sterilization liquid is achieved. However, only part of the strap may extend into the chamber so that, for example, sterilization liquid is picked up by the strap as it is retracted or extended. This may allow a reservoir of fresh sterilization liquid to be held within the housing, whilst a second separate reservoir of used sterilization liquid is provided for collection below the wiper elements.

It is thus possible to provide a reusable tourniquet device which prevents or limits the possibility of cross-contamination. As such, disposal following usage is unnecessary, and wastage is reduced.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A reusable tourniquet device comprises a housing, a flexible tourniquet strap extendable from and retractable into the housing, and sterilising liquid, the housing having a chamber for receiving the sterilising liquid, at least part of the tourniquet strap within the housing being in liquid communication with the chamber for sterilization by the sterilising liquid.
2. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first exterior opening for the strap and a separate second exterior opening for accessing the chamber.
3. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second exterior opening is closeable by a removable cap.
4. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strap is windably receivable within the chamber.
5. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing includes a spring winding mechanism for winding the strap.
6. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring winding mechanism is in the chamber.
7. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing includes a wiper element for wiping excess sterilising fluid from the strap as the strap is extracted from the housing.
8. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wiper element includes a pivotable cam having a wiping edge.
9. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein two said wiper elements are provided each side of the strap.
10. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the or each said wiper element extends fully across a lateral extent of the strap.
11. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the or each wiper element provides a seal for preventing or limiting leakage of the sterilising fluid from the housing
12. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a buckle on the strap, the buckle being releasably engagable with the housing.
13. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the buckle is repositionable along the longitudinal extent of the strap.
14. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the buckle includes a strap release mechanism, the strap release mechanism, when engaged, allowing movement of the strap in only one tightening direction.
15. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a stop at a distal free end of the strap for preventing complete retraction of the strap into the housing.
16. A reusable tourniquet device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stop is a rigid tab having an aperture for a finger.
17. A reusable tourniquet device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.