A bandage for immobilizing a pelvic ring

Abstract

The claimed invention belongs to a field of medicine and relates to a pelvic bandage comprising a wide belt (1) and elements for constricting and tightening thereof. A constricting band (3) and a buckle (2), having at least two slits, are used as the constricting elements. A tightening band (4), having one end that is rigidly fastened to the belt (1), is used as the belt (1) tightening element. One of the buckle slits is provided for constricting the belt (1), while another slit is provided for tightening the belt (1). The part of the buckle (2) that is used to perform the tightening step is made as a roller.

Description

[0001] A BANDAGE FOR IMMOBILIZING A PELVIC RING

[0002] The claimed invention belongs to a field of medicine and relates to a medical article for temporary immobilization of a pelvic ring, when a damage of pelvic organs is suspected or when there is a hemorrhage within a pelvic cavity, in order to ensure stabilization of the pelvis and to avoid any further impaction or damage of soft tissues.

[0003] Structures of currently known pelvic bandages include a wide belt and auxiliary elements, including hook-and-loop fasteners, buckles, snaps, etc. The latter are intended to constrict the belt, thereby allowing to avoid its unintentional release, and to tighten the belt, thereby ensuring a required compression level that is necessary to stop the internal hemorrhage, among others.

[0004] A pelvic bandage manufactured by SAM Medical [1], [2] is known, the bandage consists of a wide belt having one end that is sewed with a constricting band (having slits) and another end that is sewed with a buckle that is configured to automatically lock the constricting band upon achievement of a required compression level due to provision of a locking mechanism. A free end of the constricting band that is not sewed with the belt is made as a hinge, while a martingale is fixed on the wide belt from the buckle side. Tightening of the bandage is performed in the following way: the wide belt is wrapped around the pelvic ring of an injured person, the band with the slits is passed through a hole in the buckle, one healthcare professional pulls on the constricting band, while holding the hinge, and another healthcare professional holds the martingale, thereby avoiding any shift of the bandage relative to a damaged body area of the injured person. After the required compression level is reached, the buckle locking mechanism is activated and the bandage is considered as reliably tightened around the pelvic ring of the injured person.

[0005] A drawback of this bandage is that at least two healthcare professionals must be involved in the bandaging process, and these healthcare professionals must act accurately, seamlessly and cooperatively.

[0006] Another drawback is a limited range of an inclination angle of the free end of the band which one of the healthcare professionals pulls on. This is caused by the fact that the locking mechanism is configured such that it will be activated only in case when the constricting band is pulled on within the same plane with a location point of the martingale. At the same time, the range of inclination angles of the free end of the band from that part of the band that is constricted on a front part of the body of the injured person is from 10°to 30°. In view of this, the healthcare professional who pulls on the constricting band must have sufficient arm strength in order to tighten the band without any possible use of a support point. Since as soon as the healthcare professional uses the support point in order to exert greater forces for tightening, the inclination angle of the free end of the band will be changed and the locking mechanism of the buckle will not be activated. Also, a pelvic bandage manufactured by Cro Medical [3], [4] is known, the bandage solves one of the problems of the first analog, since it may be bandaged and tightened by one person. The structure of this bandage implies that it comprises a wide belt having one end that is permanently fastened on a single-slit frame, while another free end of a band is passed through the slit of the frame and constricted with a main part of the band by means of doubled Velcro straps. A tightening step is performed by means of a rounded rotation handle or another tightening mechanism in order to reach the required circumferential forces and to achieve the required compression level. This bandage bears several drawbacks. Firstly, rotation of the handle also requires the exertion of considerable forces by a healthcare professional. Furthermore, the fine motor skills of hands of the healthcare professional may be deteriorated in case of hypothermia, fogging or presence of excessive humidity, e.g., snow, rain or biological fluids, in particular, blood, that fallen on the bandage handle or hands or gloves of the healthcare professional. In addition, in terms of the tightening step, the first analog is more reliable.

[0007] An objective of the claimed invention is to develop a pelvic bandage that may be bandaged only by one person and will allow to use a support point during tightening. Furthermore, the bandage must be effective and convenient to use, it must not require tightening at a certain angle and it must be suitable for use even in humidity and low temperature conditions.

[0008] The objective is achieved by providing a pelvic bandage comprising a wide belt and elements for its constricting and tightening, wherein one of the belt constricting elements is a slit buckle. A novel feature is that a constricting band is used as another wide belt constricting element, while a tightening band having one end that is rigidly fastened on the belt is used as the belt-tightening element. The buckle is provided with at least two slits, while one of the slits is configured for passing and removable fastening one end of the wide belt on the buckle, and the second slit is configured for passing and rigidly fastening the constricting band and passing a second free end of the wide belt. That part of the buckle on which the wide belt is fastened is made as a roller. The constricting band and the tightening band have fastening dements to connect them to the bdt, while the bdt, in turn, has its own corresponding fastening elements.

[0009] Since both ends of the bdt are removably fastened to the buckle and one of the edges of the buckle is made as a roller, it is allowed to reduce the resistance of the belt relative to the buckle during tightening the bandage and it eventually allows a healthcare professional to exert fewer forces in order to achieve the required compression level.

[0010] Furthermore, this solution allows to tighten the belt (1), when the free end of the belt is located at an angle between 1° and 90° relative to another part of the belt (1) that is constricted on a front part of the body of an injured person, and this wide range allows the healthcare professional to use the support point during tightening. Tn turn, use of the support point makes the bandage-tightening process even easier and the healthcare professional eventually must exert even fewer forces to ensure the required compression level.

[0011] When compared to analogs, in the first analog, the bandaging must be performed by two persons, while the tightening step must be performed by a person that has sufficient arm strength, e.g., by a strongly-built man. In the second analog, even this man will not be able to achieve the required compression level in each case in high humidity conditions or when his hands are freezing. The claimed bandage may be tightened by a weakly built person, e.g., a nurse, regardless of the local humidity level and ambient temperature.

[0012] Generally, the claimed invention also allows to perform the bandaging process by one person, it has a lower cost price as compared to the analogs.

[0013] The essence of the claimed invention will be explained by the description below and drawings, where Fig. 1-3 illustrate various steps of the bandaging process, its components and their relationships.

[0014] The claimed bandage consists of a wide belt (1), a buckle (2), a constricting band (3) and a tightening band (4).

[0015] The bandage may further comprise a fixing band (5).

[0016] At least a double-slit buckle is used as the buckle, and the constricting band (3) is fastened to one external edge of the buckle, while the belt (1) is fastened to another external edge of the buckle, as illustrated in Fig. 1-3. The edge of the buckle (2) that is intended for fastening the belt (1) is made as a roller.

[0017] The belt (1 ) is a base of the bandage and configured such that elements for its constricting and tightening may be removably fastened thereto, in particular the buckle (2), the constricting band (3) as well as partially removably and partially permanently tightening band (4). This fastening is ensured by a presence of the fastening elements on a front side of the belt (1) and corresponding fastening elements on said components of the bandage. The belt (1) has at least two opposite ends: one end is intended to constrict the belt (an end 11) and to pass it through the slit of the buckle from a fastening side of the constricting band (3), while another end (an end 12) is intended to tighten the belt and to pass it through the slit of the buckle (2) from a side of the roller.

[0018] The constricting band (3) is intended to constrict the belt (1) around the pelvic ring of the injured person. It is configured to be removably fastened to the belt (1) and to removably fasten the end (11) of the belt (1) thereto. This is ensured by the presence of the fastening elements on a front side and on a rear side of the band (3).

[0019] The tightening band (4) is intended to tighten the previously constricted belt (1) and the removable fastening of the end (12) of the belt (1) on the buckle (2). It is made partially removable relative to the belt (1) and has at least two opposite ends: one end is intended to be permanently fastened on the belt (1), namely, on its end (12), while the remaining part of the band (4) is intended to removably fasten it on the belt (1).

[0020] When the bandaging process is completed, a small part of the end (11) of the belt (1) is fixed on the band (3), while another part hangs freely as illustrated in Fig. 2. In order to avoid any disturbance caused by the hanging part of the belt (1) during transportation of the injured person, it may be rolled in a reel and to fix this reel by means of an additional bandage element (as one of implementations of the invention) being a fixing band (5).

[0021] In a preferable embodiment, the band (5) is fastened on the buckle (2). In this case, a buckle that is provided with an additional slit between said two slits is used as the buckle, as illustrated in Fig. 2, 3. One end of the fixing band (5) is permanently fastened to one of edges that surround the additional slit. Another part of the band (5) is configured to be fastened to the part of the constricting band (3). To this end, corresponding fastening interconnectable elements are mounted on the front side of the band (5) and from its reverse side closer to the edge of the free end of the band (3) that wraps the free end of the belt (1) that is rolled in the reel.

[0022] According to a preferable embodiment:

[0023] - doubled Velcro straps are used as the fastening elements that connect the belt (1) and the bands (3), (4), (5) to each other, and one of the straps consists of microhooks, while another strap consists of microhinges;

[0024] - a solid strap with microhinges is sewed on the entire front side of the belt (1);

[0025] - one strap with microhooks is sewed on the front side of the constricting band (3) for connection to the belt (1), while two straps with microhooks are sewed on the reverse side: one strap is for connection to the free end (11) of the belt (1) that is wrapped around stud edge of the buckle (2), while another strap is for connection to the fixing band (5);

[0026] - the solid strap with microhooks is sewed on the entire reverse part of the tightening band (4) for connection to the belt (1), while the strap with microhinges is sewed on the reverse side for connection to the fixing band (5);

[0027] - the solid strap with microhooks is sewed on the entire reverse part of the fixing band (5) for connection to the reverse part of the free end of the constricting band (3), while the strap with microhinges is sewed on the reverse part for connection to the tightening band (4);

[0028] - the constricting band (3) is rigidly fastened on the buckle (2) by sewing the buckle formed with the band (3), the buckle wraps around the edge of the buckle (2) that is intended for the band;

[0029] - the tightening band (4) is rigidly fastened on the belt (1) by sewing with the end (12) of the belt (1); - the fixing band (5) is rigidly fastened on the buckle (2) by sewing the buckle formed with the band (5), the buckle wraps around the edge of the buckle (2) that is intended for the band;

[0030] - the free end of the tightening band (4) is formed as a hinge for convenient tightening of the belt (1);

[0031] - the buckle and its roller are made of plastic, and the roller is mounted on a metal rod that is rigidly fastened on the buckle;

[0032] - the belt (1) and the bands (3), (4), (5) are made of high-density polyester,

[0033] - each of a width of the belt (1) and a width of the constricting band (3) is 10 cm;

[0034] - a width of the tightening band (4) is 5 cm;

[0035] - a width of the fixing band (5) is 2.5 cm.

[0036] The belt (1) has at least two opposite ends, one aid is intended to constrict the belt (the end 11), while another end is intended to tighten the belt (the end 12).

[0037] The constricting band (3), the tightening band (4), the fixing band (5) and the end (11) for constricting the belt ( 1 ) are made as pads having fastening elements that couple to each other, namely :

[0038] - the constricting band (3) that is fixed on the buckle (2) is overlaid with its reverse side on the front side of the belt (1) as illustrated in Fig. 1 ; the end (11) is overlaid with its front side on the front side of the constricting band (3) as illustrated in Fig. 2;

[0039] - the tightening band (4) is overlaid with its reverse side on the front side of the belt (1) as illustrated in Fig. 2, 3;

[0040] - the fixing band (5) is overlaid with its front ride on the part of the reverse side of the constricting band (3) that, in turn, wraps the end (11) that is rolled in the reel.

[0041] To carry out the bandaging process, it is necessary to perform the following steps:

[0042] 1. To constrict the belt (1) around the pelvic ring of the injured person by inserting the free end (11) of the belt (1) into the slit of the buckle (2) that is closer to the fastening location of the constricting band (3).

[0043] 2. While holding the constricting band (3) by hand, to pull on the free end of the belt (1) towards the constricting band (3) up to the stop.

[0044] 3. To overlay the constricting band (3) on top of the strained belt (1) and to press its rear side against the front side of the belt (1) as illustrated in Fig. 1 for activation of their fastening elements (double Velcro straps).

[0045] 4. To overlay the remaining part of the belt (the free end 11) on top of the front side of the constricting band (3) as illustrated in Fig. 2 and to press for activation of their fastening elements, thereby completing the step of constricting the belt (1). 5. When starting the step of tightening the belt (1), it is necessary to pull on the free end of the tightening band (4) in order to ensure a free movement of the belt (1) relative to the roller of the buckle (2).

[0046] 6. To pull on the free end of the tightening band (4) in the opposite direction relative to the constricting band (3) up to the stop.

[0047] 7. To press the tightening band (4) with its rear side against the front side of the belt (1) as illustrated in Fig. 3 for activation of their fastening elements, thereby completing the step of tightening the belt (1).

[0048] If tite fixing band (5) is provided, it is necessary to perform the following steps:

[0049] 1. To roll the free edge (11) of the belt (1) in the red.

[0050] 2. To wrap the resultant reel with the free edge of the constricting band (3) such that the fastening element for the band (5) that is present thereon is on top of the reel and to overlay the fixing band (5) on this fastening element as illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0051] Although the claimed invention relates to the pelvic bandage, it will be clear for a skilled person that the claimed structure can be used for any belt products of a special medical purpose that are used for first-aid dressing in case of hemorrhage to stop it.

[0052] Sources of information:

[0053] [1] https: / / www.voutube.com / watch?v=KVOk 1 WB2vhM&ab channel=SAMMedical;

[0054] [2] WO 2014089243, 12.06.2014

[0055] [3] https: / / www.voutube.com / watch?v=Flqm6NmI2sg&ab channel=PrepMedic:

[0056] [4] WO 2021173162, 02.09.2021

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pelvic bandage comprising a wide belt (1) and elements for its constricting and tightening, and one of the belt (1) constricting elements is a slit buckle (2), wherein a constricting band (3) is used as another wide belt (1) constricting element, while a tightening band (4) having one end that is rigidly fastened on one of ends of the belt (1) is used as the belt (1) tightening element, the buckle (2) is provided with at least two slits: a belt-constricting slit that is configured to pass the constricting band (3) therethrough and fasten the constricting band thereon and to pass a free end of the wide belt ( 1) therethrough, and a belt-tightening slit that is configured to pass therethrough and to removably fasten that end of the wide belt (1) that is permanently connected to one end of the tightening band (4), and that part of the buckle on which the wide belt (1) is fastened is made as a roller, the constricting band (3) and the tightening band (4) have fastening elements to connect them to the belt (1), while the belt (1), in turn, has its own corresponding fastening elements.

2. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein both the constricting band (3) and the tightening band (4) are connected to the belt (1) by means of matching doubled Velcro straps, one strap consists of microhooks, while another strap consists of microhinges, and a solid strap with the microhinges is sewed to the entire front part of the belt (1), while at least one strap with the microhooks is sewed to each of a rear part and a front part of the constricting band (3) as well as to a rear part of the tightening band (4).

3. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a fixing band (5) having a front side that is provided with elements for its fastening on the constricting band (3) and a rear side that is provided with elements for fastening on the tightening band (4), and the rear side of the constricting band (3) and the front side of the tightening band (4) have corresponding fastening elements.

4. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein the bands (1), (3), (4), (5) are made of high-density polyester.

5. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (2) and its roller are made of plastic, and the roller is mounted on a metal rod that is rigidly fastened on the buckle.

6. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein the wide belt (1) is removably fastened around the roller of the buckle (2).

7. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein the constricting band (3) is rigidly fastened on the buckle (2).

8. The pelvic bandage according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the tightening belt (4) is formed as a hinge for convenient tightening of the belt (1).

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