Operating bar for haemostasis system

Abstract

An operating bar (20) for a hemostasis system is described, wherein the hemostasis system comprises a pressure band (12) and at least one tightening belt (16) secured at its ends on the pressure band (10). The operating bar (20) is provided with a slot (22) into which the at least one tightening belt (16) of the hemostasis system is inserted. The slot (22) of the operating bar (20) comprises an opening (24) to allow the at least one tightening belt (16) to be introduced into the slot (22) and pulled out from the same.

Description

[0001] “OPERATING BAR FOR HEMOSTASIS SYSTEM”

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention concerns an operating bar for a hemostasis system which can be used under emergency conditions to stop hemorrhage in the limbs.

[0004] Prior Art

[0005] Systems of this type are already known in the art, for example those described in the European patent applications n. EP1753344 and n. EP2425786. This known system essentially comprises a pressure band, at least one tightening belt secured at its ends on the pressure band and at least one cylindrical operating bar extending along a longitudinal axis and which is provided with a closed slot into which the tightening belt is inserted. An example of the operating bar of this known system is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

[0006] Although intuitive and equipped with specific instructions, the use of a similar system requires prior training of the personnel who will be using it. Packages containing training systems, which are distinct from packages containing systems intended for effective use, are therefore generally designed. According to conventions to date, packages containing systems intended for training demonstrations include a blue-colored operating bar, whereas single-use packages containing systems intended for their effective use include a black-colored operating bar.

[0007] During production, at least one tightening belt is inserted into the closed slot of the operating bar and therefore secured to the pressure band. Consequently, both packages with a bluecolored operating bar and packages with a black-colored operating bar must be designed. This involves the need to plan two different types of packages and to differentiate production according to market demands.

[0008] It is however important to keep in mind that packages of these hemostasis systems have an expiration date, beyond which the package must be disposed of even if the hemostasis system intended for actual use has not been used.

[0009] Moreover, it can happen that the operating bar contained in the package of a hemostasis system has manufacturing defects or breakages in the plastic or metal material of which it is made, therefore making its actual use impossible.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] That said, an object of the present invention is to provide an operating bar for a hemostasis system which can be reused for training purposes whenever the hemostasis system has reached its expiration date. A further object of the present invention is to provide an operating bar for a hemostasis system which can replace the original operating bar present in the package whenever the original operating bar has manufacturing defects, damage and / or breakages.

[0012] These and further objects are achieved by the present invention which concerns an operating bar according to claim 1. Further peculiar characteristics of the present invention are set forth in the respective dependent claims.

[0013] An operating bar for a hemostasis system is used in a system comprising a pressure band and at least one tightening belt secured at its ends on the pressure band. The operating bar, which has elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis, is provided with a slot into which the at least one tightening belt is inserted.

[0014] The slot of the operating bar according to the invention comprises an opening to allow the at least one tightening belt to be introduced into the slot and pulled out from the same.

[0015] This makes it possible to use a system according to the invention as required by the circumstances. For example, if the system is provided with an operating bar of a first preset color (i.e. black), in which the at least one tightening belt is previously inserted into the respective slot for its effective use in case of emergency response, it is possible to pull out the operating bar of the first preset color from the at least one tightening belt and to use a different operating bar of a second preset color (i.e. blue) by introducing the at least one tightening belt into the respective slot through the opening present in the slot itself. This way, it is possible to reuse, for example, a hemostasis system which has exceeded its expiration date for training the personnel who will have to use the same intact, and not yet expired, system during emergency response operations, therefore preventing the need to dispose of the expired hemostasis system.

[0016] A hemostasis system to stop hemorrhage in the limbs and which includes at least two operating bars of different colors can therefore be provided, wherein each operating bar has a slot comprising an opening to allow the at least one tightening belt of a system according to the invention to be introduced and pulled out.

[0017] This allows to simplify and make the production of these hemostasis systems more economical, since each individual package can be used both for actual use and training.

[0018] Whenever a first of the two bars has defects or breakages which could prevent it from being used, the second operating bar can be used, also in the event of emergency response operations, independently of its color.

[0019] The opening of the slot present in the operating bar can be constituted by a slit inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operating bar. This allows to introduce and pull out the at least one tightening belt from the slot of the operating bar.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the operating bar can have a central portion with a substantially oval or elliptical section at the slot. The slot extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the operating bar and is offset from the center of the central portion having oval or elliptical section. This gives high strength to the operating bar in the step during which the necessary torque onto the at least one tightening belt has to be exerted.

[0021] In an embodiment, the operating bar is made of plastic or metal material and comprises at least one tab superimposed on the slot, which is flexible and can be slightly raised to facilitate the at least one tightening belt to be inserted into the slot, therefore simultaneously allowing the slit forming the opening of the slot to be protected.

[0022] The operating bar can comprise markings arranged, for example, near the slit for accessing the slot, which allow to easily understand whether the tightening belt(s) is / are correctly inserted into the slot.

[0023] Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer in the following description made by way of example and without limitations with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, not to scale, in which:

[0025] - Figure 1 is a plan view of an illustrative and simplified embodiment of a hemostasis system comprising an operating bar according to the present invention;

[0026] - Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of an operating bar of the system of Figure 1;

[0027] - Figure 3 is a more enlarged sectional view, according to the plane III-III, of the operating bar depicted in Figure 2;

[0028] - Figure 4 is a plan view of the operating bar of Figure 2;

[0029] - Figure 5 is a side view of an operating bar made according to the prior art; and

[0030] - Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view, according to the plane V-V, of the operating bar of the prior art depicted in Figure 5.

[0031] Detailed description

[0032] A hemostasis system 10 comprising a pressure band 12 to which a friction buckle 14 is secured at an end thereof is shown in Figure 1. The other end, or free end, of the pressure band 12 is intended for being engaged in the friction buckle 14 after the pressure band 12 has been wrapped around the injured limb in which the hemorrhage must be stopped. The system 10 further comprises at least one tightening belt 16 which is secured at its ends on the pressure band 12.

[0033] The at least one tightening belt 16 is inserted into a slot 22 (visible in Figures 2 and 3) of an operating bar 20 made of plastic or metal material, which has an elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis A. The slot 22 of the operating bar 20 comprises an opening 24 to allow the at least one tightening belt 16 to be introduced into the slot 22, as well as the tightening belt 16 to be pulled out from the slot 22. In the embodiment described herein, only one tightening belt 16 is illustrated for sake of clarity, but it is important to note that the tightening belts 16 can be two, for example, both secured at their ends on opposite parts of the pressure band 12, so as to form two loops to be inserted into the slot 22.

[0034] The system 10 further comprises at least one hooking member 30 secured to the pressure band 12 to hold the operating bar 20 in position and to allow it to be released from the holding position. The hooking member can be made, for example, like a “C” shaped arch.

[0035] After having applied the pressure band 12 to the injured limb, the operating bar 20 can be rotated to tense the at least one tightening belt 16 and tighten it on the pressure band 12.

[0036] Once a tightening condition sufficient for stopping the hemorrhage has been reached, the operating bar 20 can be held in position by the hooking member 30. The operating bar 20 must however be periodically released from the hooking member 30 to reduce the grip exerted by the at least one tightening belt 16 on the pressure band 12 applied to the injured limb and allow a minimum flow of blood to the limb. The operating bar 20 will therefore be rotated again and put back on the hooking member to stop the hemorrhage again.

[0037] As highlighted in Figure 2, the opening 24 providing access to the slot 22 is constituted by a slit inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the operating bar 20. The slot 22 is arranged in a central portion 28 and extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the operating bar 20 and is offset from it. The tab 25 superimposed on the slot 22 is flexible and can be slightly raised to facilitate the insertion of the at least one tightening belt 16, therefore simultaneously allowing the slit forming the opening 24 to be protected.

[0038] The central portion 28 of the operating bar 20, which has a substantially oval or elliptical section at the slot 22, is highlighted in the view of Figure 3. The section of the central portion 28 can therefore bear the force needed to exert its action on the tightening belt(s) 16.

[0039] As highlighted in Figure 4, markings 26, which allow to easily understand whether the tightening belt(s) (16) is / are correctly inserted into the slot 22, can be designed on the operating bar 20.

[0040] A system 10, as the one described so far, can therefore be packaged as a hemostasis system in which at least two operating bars 20 of different colors are comprised, so as to be able to be used both for training and actual use. Each operating bar 20 included in the package of the system will have a slot 22 comprising an opening 24 to allow the tightening belt 16 to be introduced and pulled out.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Operating bar (20) for hemostasis system, wherein said system comprises a pressure band (12) and at least one tightening belt (16) secured at its ends on said pressure band (10), and wherein said operating bar (20) has an elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the operating bar (20) is provided with a slot (22) into which said at least one tightening belt (16) is inserted, characterized in that the slot (22) of said operating bar (20) comprises an opening (24) to allow said at least one tightening belt (16) to be introduced into the slot (22) and pulled out from the same.

2. Operating bar (20) according to claim 1, wherein said opening (24) is constituted by a slit inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of said operating bar (20).

3. Operating bar (20) according to claim 1, wherein said operating bar (20) has a central portion (28) with a substantially oval or elliptical section at said slot (22), and wherein said slot (22) extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the operating bar (20) and is offset from the center of the oval or elliptical section of the central portion (28).

4. Operating bar (20) according to claim 1, comprising at least one tab (25) superimposed on the slot (22), which is flexible and can be slightly raised to facilitate the at least one tightening belt (16) to be inserted into the slot (22), therefore simultaneously allowing the slit forming the opening (24) of the slot (22) to be protected.

5. Operating bar (20) according to claim 1, on which there are markings (26) which allow to easily understand whether the tightening belt(s) (16) is / are correctly inserted into the slot (22).

6. Operating bar (20) according to claim 1 which is made of plastic or metal material.

7. Hemostasis system to stop hemorrhage in the limbs, according to claims 1 to 6 and comprising at least two operating bars (20) according to claims 1 to 6 of different colors, each operating bar (20) having a slot (22) comprising an opening (24) to allow said at least one tightening belt (16) to be introduced and pulled out.

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