Tourniquet Cuff for Various Non-Cylindrical Limb Shapes

Abstract

A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

1 . A tourniquet cuff apparatus for various non-cylindrical limb shapes, comprising:
 an inner sheet joined to an outer sheet to form a generally arcuate shaped, inflatable cuff, the cuff having opposing ends and substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges extending between the opposing ends, the outer sheet extending from one opposing end of the cuff to the other opposing end and consisting of material having an outer fastening surface formed entirely of a first fastener component;   an elongated, curvable securing strap formed to curve around and conform to the shape of a limb to which the cuff is applied, the strap including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment of the strap including a second fastener component that can releasably engage the outer fastening surface,   an end of the securing strap attached to the outer fastening surface of the outer sheet near a first end of the cuff; and wherein   the second segment of the strap is configured to be different from the first segment of the strap so that the second segment is between the first end of the cuff and the first segment of the strap and so that the second segment of the strap twists to facilitate non-twisting movement of the first segment of the strap toward and away from the substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges, thereby to enable engagement of the second fastener component on the strap with the outer fastening surface between the arcuate distal and proximal side edges of the cuff.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second segment of the strap is shaped to be generally planar and narrower than the first segment such that the second segment may be readily twisted out of its normally planar orientation; and wherein
 the second segment of the strap is formed of a material that can curve around and conform to the curved shape of the limb. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second segment of the strap is shaped to be generally planar and more flexible than the first segment such that the second segment may be readily twisted out of its normally planar orientation; and wherein
 the second segment of the strap is formed of a material that can curve around and conform to the curved shape of the limb. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second segment of the strap and the first segment of the strap are selected from different materials so that the second segment can be readily twisted to facilitate the bending of the strap without twisting the first segment of the strap. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a secondary fastener attached on the inner sheet near the first end of the cuff, the secondary fastener comprising a third fastener component that can releasably engage the outer fastening surface of the cuff; and wherein 
 the securing strap is attached to the secondary fastener through the outer fastening surface. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a secondary fastening surface on the inner sheet, the secondary fastening surface comprising a material that releasably engages the outer fastening surface of the cuff when the cuff is applied to the limb. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a secondary fastener attached to the inner sheet, the secondary fastener comprising a third fastener component that can releasably engage the outer fastening surface of the cuff, and 
 the secondary fastener being located so that the first end of the cuff is between the secondary fastener and the outermost end of the securing strap that is attached near the first end of the cuff. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inner and outer sheets are welded together to form a bladder and wherein an inlet port is welded to the bladder, and further comprising a masked region of the inner sheet configured to prevent welding of any material to the masked region. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a stiffener member inserted between the inner and outer sheets. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the securing strap includes a first predetermined color that contrasts with the color of the outer fastening surface, thereby facilitating visual determination of complete engagement of the second fastening component to the outer fastening surface between the side edges of the cuff. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a label barrier applied to cover a region of the outer fastening surface between the distal side edge and the proximal side edge near a second end of the cuff to prevent engagement with the region of the outer fastening surface covered by the label barrier. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a barrier applied onto a region of the outer fastening surface, the barrier preventing engagement with the outer fastening surface in the region. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an end of a second securing strap is attached to the outer sheet near a first end of the cuff and the strap is configured so that a second segment of the second securing strap twists to facilitate non-twisting movement of a first segment of the second securing strap toward and away from the substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges, thereby to enable engagement of a second fastener component on the second securing strap with the outer fastening surface between the generally arcuate distal and proximal side edges of the cuff. 
     
     
         14 . A tourniquet cuff apparatus for various non-cylindrical limb shapes, comprising:
 an inner sheet joined to an outer sheet to form a generally arcuate shaped, inflatable cuff, the outer sheet comprising an outer fastening surface formed of a first fastener component, the cuff having opposing ends and substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges extending between the opposing ends;   an elongated securing strap formed to include a first segment and a second segment, the first segment of the strap including a second fastener component that can releasably engage the first fastener component, wherein   an end of the second segment of the securing strap is attached near a first end of the cuff; and wherein   the second segment of the strap is configured to be different from the first segment of the strap and so that
 the second segment is directly connected between the first end of the cuff and the first segment of the strap and so that the second segment of the strap twists to facilitate non-twisting movement of the first segment of the strap toward and away from the substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges, thereby to enable engagement of the second fastener component on the strap with the outer fastening surface between the arcuate distal and proximal side edges of the cuff; and so that 
 when twisted, the second segment can also be curved to conform to the curvature of the limb to which the cuff is applied. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second segment of the strap is shaped to be generally planar and narrower than the first segment such that the second segment may be readily twisted out of its normally planar orientation; and wherein
 the second segment of the strap is selected to be a material that can curve around and conform to the curvature of the limb. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second segment of the strap is shaped to be generally planar and more flexible than the first segment such that the second segment may be readily twisted out of its normally planar orientation; and wherein
 the second segment of the strap is selected to be a material that can curve around and conform to the curvature of the limb. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the outer sheet is selected to consist of material having an outer fastening surface formed entirely of a first fastener component that is engageable with a corresponding second fastener component. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein an end of a second securing strap is attached to the outer fastening surface of the outer sheet near a first end of the cuff and wherein the strap is configured so that a second segment of the second securing strap twists to facilitate non-twisting movement of a first segment of the second securing strap toward and away from the substantially arcuate distal and proximal side edges, thereby to enable engagement of a second fastener component on the second securing strap with the outer fastening surface between the arcuate distal and proximal side edges of the cuff. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  including a secondary fastener on the inner sheet, the secondary fastening surface comprising a material that releasably engages the outer fastening surface of the cuff when the cuff is applied to the limb. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  including a stiffener member inserted between the inner sheet and outer sheet.