Bilateral Reversible Venous Tourniquet Bands With Phosphorescent Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disposable venous tourniquet bands are unsuitable or unpleasant for patients and healthcare providers due to physical limitations and skin conditions, and there is a risk of forgetting to remove them in low-light conditions, leading to potential patient harm.
Innovation Solution
A bilateral reversible venous tourniquet band with a knurled crossed pattern and phosphorescent material, featuring a smooth and textured surface, and a length of approximately 18 inches, designed to be visible in low-light conditions and prevent accidental retention in laundry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a standard disposable tourniquet band is used, then it is hygienic and convenient, but it causes discomfort to patients with skin conditions and provides poor visibility in low-light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet band incorporates different surface textures (smooth and knurled) in different regions to address specific patient needs. The knurled pattern provides enhanced grip and comfort for patients with skin conditions, while the smooth portions maintain ease of application. This localized variation in surface quality resolves the contradiction between standard design convenience and patient-specific comfort needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tourniquet band incorporates phosphorescent material that changes its optical properties under different lighting conditions. In low-light environments, the phosphorescent material glows to provide high visibility, preventing accidental retention. This dynamic optical change resolves the contradiction between maintaining a simple disposable design and ensuring visibility safety in varying lighting conditions.
2Ease of operation
If a smooth surface tourniquet band is used, then it is easy to apply, but it provides poor grip and comfort for patients with skin conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet band features a bilateral design with one smooth surface for easy application and one knurled surface for enhanced patient comfort and grip. This local differentiation allows the device to satisfy both operational ease and patient comfort requirements simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between smooth surface simplicity and textured surface comfort.
3Device complexity
If a standard tourniquet band without special markings is used, then it is simple in design, but it is difficult to detect in low-light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet band incorporates phosphorescent material that remains invisible under normal lighting but glows brightly in low-light conditions. This allows the design to maintain simplicity under standard conditions while automatically providing enhanced detectability when needed, resolving the contradiction between design simplicity and low-light visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The phosphorescent material is pre-integrated into the tourniquet band structure during manufacturing, so no additional markings or attachments are needed. This preliminary incorporation maintains design simplicity while ensuring visibility functionality is already present and requires no additional steps, resolving the contradiction between added complexity and improved detectability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tourniquet band provides improved patient comfort and visibility, reducing the risk of accidental retention and ensuring timely removal, even in low-light environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one protrusion of the pattern of protrusions having a phosphorescent material
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments for a bilateral reversible disposable tourniquet band. The band tourniquet comprises an elongated member having a flat structure made of a thermoplastic elastomer material. The band has a first surface having a smooth texture, and a second surface having a non-smooth texture comprising a knurled pattern. The elongated member may have a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.