Adjustable Vascular Compression Pad with Ratchet Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular compression devices lack a convenient, user-controlled, and easily-adjustable means to rapidly apply and adjust compression to blood vessels during medical procedures, such as radial artery catheterization, while ensuring hemostasis and maintaining blood flow through adjacent vessels.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable vascular compression device with a strap, compression pad, and threaded element that allows for securement, fine adjustments, and rapid release, enabling user-controlled compression and patency of blood vessels, allowing for external compression over a target vessel while maintaining flow through adjacent vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tourniquet-type device is used to compress the entire circumference of the limb, then blood flow to distal portions is stopped, but this causes unnecessary compression of adjacent vessels and reduces patient comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The compression device applies force locally at the puncture site rather than circumferentially around the entire limb. The pad is positioned directly over the target vessel at the insertion site, concentrating compression force only where needed to achieve hemostasis while leaving adjacent vessels uncompressed and patent.
2Reliability
If compression is applied to stop blood flow, then hemostasis is achieved, but adjusting the degree of compression requires releasing and reapplying the device
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a ratchet mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of compression force during use. The clinician can incrementally tighten or loosen the strap by engaging or disengaging the ratchet, enabling real-time control of compression level without requiring complete release and reapplication of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is pre-configured with an adjustable strap and ratchet mechanism that enables easy modification of compression force. This preliminary design allows for quick adjustments by simply operating the ratchet lever, eliminating the need for complex manipulation or device removal.
3Device complexity
If a simple strap and pad device is used, then the structure is simple, but rapid release and fine adjustment capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet mechanism provides both fine adjustment capability through incremental engagement and rapid release through a simple lever action. The design maintains relative structural simplicity while enabling sophisticated control functions through the mechanical advantage of the ratchet system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism acts as an intermediary between the simple strap structure and the desired complex functions of fine adjustment and rapid release. It translates simple lever movements into precise control of compression force, adding functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If compression is applied over the puncture site, then hemostasis is achieved, but visual and physical access to the site is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a thin, flexible pad that can be positioned directly over the puncture site to provide compression. The pad's thin profile minimizes obstruction while maintaining effective compression force, allowing clinicians to visually monitor and physically access the puncture site even when the device is in place.
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 device effectively assists in achieving hemostasis by allowing precise control over vascular compression, enabling rapid application and release, and maintaining blood flow through adjacent vessels, thus supporting procedures like radial artery catheterization and hemodialysis.
Implementation Method 1
applying compression to the body surface overlying said blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
The housing further provides sufficient flexion, through a hinge means at one end, to enable quick release of the strap when the hinge means is actuated
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable vascular compression device assists in achieving partial or full occlusion of a blood vessel when applied to a patient's limb, for example, during or following a medical procedure. Pads on the device apply preferential compression to portions of the circumference of the limb so as to enable blood flow through adjacent blood vessels during the compression period. Further, rapid fastening, tightening, loosening and release is enabled by a single mechanism, and gradual adjustments to the tightness may be made without releasing said mechanism.