Elastic Tourniquet with Hook-and-Loop Fastening for Adjustable Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tourniquets are complex and expensive to manufacture, making them difficult for dazed individuals to apply quickly and effectively, especially in emergency situations, and they often require excessive pressure that can lead to tissue damage or inadequate bleeding control.
Innovation Solution
A single elongate fabric band with opposing free ends, one side smooth and the other fuzzy, featuring patches of hook material for secure attachment, allowing for easy application and adjustable compression, enabling efficient blood flow occlusion with bidirectional use and compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tourniquets are used, then bleeding control is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet is divided into distinct functional segments: an elastic band for compression, hook material patches for attachment, and a ratchet mechanism for adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of a tourniquet (compressing a limb to stop bleeding) and removes unnecessary complex mechanisms found in traditional tourniquets. The simplified design uses basic elastic materials and hook-and-loop attachments instead of complex mechanical systems.
2Reliability
If traditional tourniquets are used, then bleeding control is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet is designed to be inexpensive and disposable, using cheap elastic materials, printed hook material patches, and basic ratchet components. This approach prioritizes affordability and ease of manufacture over longevity, allowing the device to be produced at low cost while maintaining sufficient reliability for emergency use.
3Reliability
If high pressure is applied by traditional tourniquets, then bleeding control is improved, but tissue damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet incorporates a ratchet mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of compression pressure. The user can gradually increase pressure in controlled increments, stopping when adequate bleeding control is achieved, rather than applying maximum pressure immediately. This dynamic adjustment capability prevents tissue damage while ensuring effective hemorrhage control.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic band's compression force can be changed by adjusting the amount of stretch applied during wrapping. The ratchet mechanism allows the user to modify the compression parameter in discrete steps, enabling precise control over the pressure applied to the limb to achieve bleeding control without excessive force.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex tourniquets are used, then precision is improved, but ease of application decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The tourniquet is designed to be self-adjusting through its elastic band and ratchet mechanism. The elastic material provides inherent tension, and the ratchet allows the user to easily tighten or loosen the wrap without requiring complex calibration or precision tools. This self-service design makes the device simple to apply while maintaining adequate precision for effective compression.
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 is simple to apply, inexpensive to produce, and infinitely adjustable, providing effective bleeding control with reduced risk of tissue damage, suitable for both medical professionals and untrained users, and can be reused multiple times.
Implementation Method 1
The tourniquet comprises a band of elastic and flexible material... the band is elastically stretchable to about 150% of its relaxed length
Implementation Method 2
Bonded or otherwise attached to the smooth side of the band are patches of hook material... The hook material is able to latch onto the fuzzy finish so as to secure the band
Data Source
AI summary
A tourniquet band is made of an elastic material and has a plush surface on one side and a series of hook fastener material patches on the reverse side. The woven structure includes a series of parallel elastic threads covered by a dense yet loosely coiled bundle of non-elastic threads. The non-elastic threads are oriented to form the plush surface while allowing the elastic core thread to elongate for applying pressure to a body part by elastic compression when the tourniquet is wrapped around the body part and secured by joining the hook material with the plush surface.