Point-pressure application system

Abstract

An apparatus for applying point-pressure to a wound site that helps occlude open blood vessels. The apparatus being comprised of a pressure applicator, a mounting plate, articulating strap attachment points, and counter-pressure cavities. The articulating strap attachment points attach to straps around a patient's body in such a manner that the apparatus is stabilized over a patient's wound. Moreover, the counter-pressure cavities permit a user to apply leverage caused by counter-force mechanism (while also applying a downward force on the pressure applicator). These features enable a user to quickly and easily apply point pressure to a wound site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An auto-locking apparatus for controlling hemorrhage, the apparatus enabling a user to apply point pressure extremely rapidly with a single hand, the apparatus comprising:
 a mounting plate for mounting the apparatus over a wound site, the mounting plate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;   a strap attachment point coupled to the mounting plate, the strap attachment point configured for connecting to a strap that secures the apparatus over the wound site;   a pressure applicator for applying point pressure to the wound site, the pressure applicator extending through the mounting plate and being stabilized in a lateral direction by the mounting plate; and   an auto-locking mechanism enabling the pressure applicator to travel, upon application of downward force, towards the wound site when the apparatus is placed over the wound site, the auto-locking mechanism preventing the pressure applicator from travelling away from the wound site when downward pressure is removed from the pressure applicator, the auto-locking mechanism comprising a locking tab having an aperture therethrough,   wherein the pressure applicator extends through the aperture in the locking tab,   wherein the locking tab comprises a resting position that is at an angle that is offset from a plane that is orthogonal to the pressure applicator and the pressure applicator is prevented from moving upward or downward when the locking tab is in the resting position, and   wherein the locking tab comprises an active position in which the locking tab substantially aligns with the plane that is orthogonal to the pressure applicator and the pressure applicator is able to move upward or downward when the locking tab is in the active position.