PORTABLE PNEUMATIC ABDOMINAL AORTIC TOURNIQUET WITH SUPPLEMENTAL TENSIONING MEANS

摘要

A portable pneumatic abdominal aortic tourniquet for occlusion of the abdominal descending aorta to restrict blood supply to a non-compressible arterial hemorrhage in or below the inguinal region is presented. The tourniquet includes an adjustable waist strap for securing it around the abdomen of a patient and a windlass rod connected to the waist strap to selectively tighten the strap as needed to tightly secure it to patient. A directed air bladder is mounted to the waist strap having a generally “V” shaped construction and is expanded for exerting directed pressure against the abdomen. Upon inflation of the air bladder and adjustment of the windlass, occlusion or restriction of blood flow through the abdominal descending aorta will occur which will achieve cessation of hemorrhage in or below the inguinal area or achieve other therapeutic effects like elevated blood pressure to enhance CPR or blood flow control to the lower extremities.

主权项

1. A method for applying a tourniquet to the abdominal region, comprising the steps of:
a. providing an abdominal tourniquet comprising:
i. an adjustable waist strap for securing said abdominal tourniquet around an abdomen;ii. a base plate carried by said waist strap having a width greater than said waist strap so that said base plate extends laterally outward from said waist strap to provide a stable base for positioning over a selected area of said abdomen;iii. an air bladder carried on a bottom side of said base plate having a deflated condition wherein said air bladder is collapsed against said base plate, and an inflated condition wherein said air bladder is expanded to extend outwardly from said bottom side of said base plate;iv. said air bladder having a generally elongated “V” shaped construction so that a wide end of said directed air bladder is generally carried on said bottom side of said base plate and an elongated narrow converging end of said directed air bladder forms an elongated edge positioned away from and parallel to said base plate;v. an air source operatively connected in fluid communication with said directed air bladder for operating said directed air bladder between said deflated condition and said inflated condition;vi. a windlass rod attached to said waist strap wherein rotation of said windlass rod tightens said waist strap; andvii. retention means for retaining said windlass rod in position; b. securing said waist strap around an abdomen of a person, wherein said air bladder is in contact with the surface of said abdomen and positioned over the aorta at or above the umbilical region of said person; c. inflating said air bladder with said air source; d. selectively actuating said windlass rod to tighten said waist strap; and, e. wherein said inflation step causes said elongated edge of said directed air bladder to apply a constricting force against said abdomen such that said aorta is compressed to occlusion.