TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to a tourniquet comprising a strap and an anchoring entity through which a length portion of the strap is arranged. BACKGROUND

A tourniquet is typically used when venous or arterial hemostasis is required in a body part, such as an arm or a leg. Hemostasis may be desirable in case the body part has an injury and it is necessary to stem bleeding. However, venous and arterial hemostasis is also desirable in that it enables, e.g., a physician to visually locate a vein or an artery for ensuring a safe and accurate insertion of a needle into the vein or artery when taking blood samples or in intravenous or intraarterial therapy.

A typical prior art tourniquet comprises a strap having various anchoring and

engagement features that provide a simple way of obtaining a suitable tensing force in the strap in a circumferential direction around the body part in question. Prior art devices are typically configured such that the tensing force is easily maintained in that the strap is securely "locked" when in use. However, such secure "locking" of the tourniquet means that, in order to release the tourniquet from the body part, it is necessary to apply a significant amount of physical pulling force in a direction that is perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the tourniquet when arranged around the body part. Needless to say, applying a significant amount of physical pulling force in such a way will inevitably result in undesirable movement of the body part and thereby producing unnecessary physical discomfort and potentially also result in injury to the body part, remembering that a typical use of a tourniquet is in connection with insertion of a needle into a vein or artery. Although the risk of causing injury may typically be small, even a small dislocation of a needle during intravenous or intraartery therapy is undesirable since it may cause leaks.

An example of such a prior art tourniquet is disclosed in published US patent application 2016/0287262. The tourniquet in US 2016/0287262 comprises a strap and a closure device where the closure device is of the hook-and-loop closure type. SUM MARY

In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to overcome or at least mitigate at least some of the drawbacks related to prior art tourniquets. This is achieved in a first aspect by a tourniquet that comprises a strap and an anchoring entity. A length portion of the strap comprises, on one side along its complete length, a plurality of hooks and this length portion of the strap is configured to be folded back on itself through the anchoring entity. By this folding-back configuration of the length portion of the strap, a hook-and-hook closure engagement is obtained. This hook-and-hook closure engagement provides anchoring of the length portion of the strap to the strap.

In other words, a very simple realization of a tourniquet comprises a strap and an anchoring entity. The "length portion of the strap" as defined above, is configured with a plurality of hooks that engage with each other when this part of the strap is folded back on itself through the anchoring entity. The engagement between the hooks provides a tensile strength in a direction along the strap that is sufficient enough to support the tension force that results from applying the tourniquet around a body part in which venous or arterial hemostasis is to be obtained. Whereas the tensile strength in the direction along the strap is relatively high, the strength of the engagement between the hooks in a direction perpendicular to the strap will be relatively low. This means that the tourniquet of the present disclosure is very simple to use. No significant amount of physical pulling force perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the tourniquet is necessary when it is being released and the body part in question will experience little or no undesirable movement, resulting in little or no physical discomfort. In fact, such a tourniquet may be embodied in a very simple fashion where the strap has no engaging means other than hooks.

Moreover, since a tourniquet is typically used by a medical professional while performing intravenous or intraarterial therapy or taking blood samples, it is often necessary to operate the tourniquet using only one hand. As can be understood from the technical effects summarized above, the tourniquet of the present disclosure is easy to operate using one hand only while at the same time avoiding undesirable needle dislocation. Consequently, in contrast to prior art devices, it provides the advantages summarized above also when it is operated by one hand only.

Furthermore, a tourniquet as disclosed herein is also very easy to manufacture in terms of the number of steps needed to assemble the strap and the anchoring entity and, consequently, it can be manufactured to a very low cost.

In some embodiments, the anchoring entity comprises a buckle attached to the strap. Such a buckle may, for example, be ring-shaped and such a ring shaped buckle may be more or less closed. The buckle may be attached to the strap in a more or less permanent manner, for example by means of glue or by way of a seam. Embodiments of such tourniquets are easy to use in that the length portion of the strap runs easily without much friction through the buckle when tension is applied during use.

In other embodiments, the anchoring entity comprises a cut-out in the strap. Such a cut- out may in some embodiments be provided a brace arranged at the cut-out. Such a braced cut-out at least reduces friction in the engagement between the length portion of the strap that is folded back on itself and the strap. Such a reduction of friction simplifies the use of the tourniquet in a similar way as that of the embodiments where the anchoring entity is a buckle. In some embodiments, the strap of the tourniquet comprises hooks on one side all along the length of the strap. An advantage of such embodiments is that it simplifies manufacturing in that a tourniquet of any length can be cut from a source of hook filled strap and no considerations are needed regarding any specific length of strap that is to be utilized as the length portion that is folded back on itself. With regard to the hooks, these may have "J"-shape and in some embodiments they may have "C"-shape. In fact, a combination of "J"-shaped hooks and "C"-shaped hooks are also feasible. "J"-shaped and "C"-shaped hooks have an advantage over, e.g., "T"- shaped or mushroom-shaped hooks in that they provide an appropriate hook-to-hook engagement that results in the desired relatively low strength of the engagement between the hooks in a direction perpendicular to the strap while providing the desired tensile strength in the direction along the strap that is relatively high. Another advantage is that, by using such hooks, a very low force perpendicular to the direction of the strap is needed to bring the hooks into engagement with each other.

In another aspect there is provided a method of manufacturing a tourniquet. The method comprises providing a strap. The strap comprises a length portion that comprises, on one side along its complete length, a plurality of hooks. The strap is provided with an anchoring entity by any of attaching a buckle to the strap and creating a cut-out in the strap. Such a creating a cut-out is followed by arranging a brace at the cut-out.

In yet another aspect there is provided a method of using a tourniquet as summarized above. The method comprises arranging the tourniquet around a body part, arranging the length portion of the strap through the engaging entity, pulling the length portion of the strap whereby the strap obtains an increased tension and venous hemostasis is obtained in the body part. The length portion of the strap is folded back on itself whereby a hook-and-hook closure arrangement is obtained that provides engagement between the length portion of the strap and the strap. The method concludes with unfolding the length portion of the strap whereby the strap obtains a decreased tension and the venous hemostasis in the body part ceases.

These further aspects can be embodied, and have technical effects and advantages, that correspond to those summarized above in connection with the tourniquet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 schematically illustrates use of a tourniquet,

figure 2 schematically llustrates a tourniquet,

figure 3 schematically llustrates a portion of a tourniquet,

figure 4 schematically llustrates a portion of a tourniquet,

figure 5 schematically llustrates a portion of a tourniquet, and

figure 6 schematically llustrates parts of a tourniquet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to figure 1 , a number of steps of a method of using a tourniquet 100 is schematically illustrated. The tourniquet 100 is arranged around a body part 101 , which in the example of figure 1 is an upper arm of a person. The tourniquet 100 comprises a strap 102 and an anchoring entity 1 10, which in the example of figure 1 is a buckle that is ring-shaped. A length portion 106 of the strap 102 that comprises, on one side, a plurality of hooks 108 is arranged through the anchoring entity 1 10 and the length portion 106 of the strap 102 is being pulled by a hand 103, which may belong to the same person as the body part 101 or belong to any other person who is performing the method of using the tourniquet 100. By the pulling of the length portion 106 of the strap 102, the strap 102 obtains an increased tension and venous hemostasis is obtained in the body part 101. These steps may be performed in the order that is described above or in any other appropriate order. For example, the step of arranging the length portion 106 of the strap through the anchoring entity may be performed prior to the step of arranging the tourniquet 100 around the body part.

Referring now also to figure 2 (in which the body part 101 is omitted for the sake of clarity of illustration), the length portion 106 of the strap 102 is folded back on itself whereby a hook-and-hook closure engagement is obtained that provides anchoring of the length portion 106 of the strap 102 to the strap 102. The method of using the tourniquet 100 concludes by unfolding the length portion 106 of the strap 102 whereby the strap 102 obtains a decreased tension and the venous hemostasis in the body part 101 ceases.

As summarized above, the engagement between the hooks 108 that provides anchoring of the length portion 106 of the strap 102 to the strap 102 provides a tensile strength in a direction 121 along the strap 102 that is sufficient enough to support the tension force that results from applying the tourniquet 100 around the body part 101. Whereas the tensile strength in the direction 121 along the strap 102 is relatively high, the strength of the engagement between the hooks 108 in a direction 122 perpendicular to the strap 102 will be relatively low. This means that the tourniquet 100 no significant amount of physical pulling force in the direction 122 perpendicular to the circumferential direction (i.e. the direction 121) along the strap 102 of the tourniquet 100 is necessary when it is being released by the unfolding of the length portion 106 of the strap 102.

Figure 3 illustrates a portion of the tourniquet 100 illustrated in figures 1 and 2. In figure

3, the anchoring entity 1 10 is in the form of an exemplifying ring-shaped buckle. The shape of the ring-shaped buckle 1 10 may be a closed ring or a more open ring or even a hook-shape. The ring-shaped buckle 1 10 is attached to the strap 102 by means of an end portion 1 14 folded through the buckle 1 10 back on itself and secured by means of a seam 1 12 to the strap 102. The seam 112 may be in the form of, e.g., a stitched seam, a glued seam, a seam fused or welded by means of heat, ultrasound waves etc. The seam 112 may also be in the form of one or more staples.

Figure 4 illustrates a portion of a tourniquet 100 illustrated in figures 1 , 2 and 3. In figure

4, the anchoring entity 1 10 is in the form of an exemplifying ring-shaped buckle and it is attached to the strap 102 by means of an end portion 115 folded through the anchoring entity 1 10 back on itself. As an alternative to the seam 112 in the embodiment of figures 1-3, figure 4 illustrates embodiments where the anchoring entity 110 is secured by means of the end portion 115 itself. That is, the end portion 1 15 comprises, on one side, a plurality of loops 1 16 and the end portion 115 is arranged to be folded back on itself through the anchoring entity, i.e. the buckle , 1 10 and thereby provide a hook-and-loop closure with hooks 108 of the strap 102 that attaches the buckle 1 10 to the strap 102. Yet further embodiments of a tourniquet 200 are illustrated in figure 5 and in figure 6. The tourniquet 200 comprises a strap 202 and an anchoring entity 210. The anchoring entity 210 comprises a cut-out 210 in the strap 202. As illustrated in figures 5 and 6, a brace 212 may be arranged at the cut-out 210. In such embodiments, the brace 212 is for at least reducing friction in the engagement between a folded length portion 206 of the strap 202 folded back on itself and the strap 202. The brace 210 may additionally provide any desired rigidity in the engagement between the folded length portion 206 and the strap 202. Similar to the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 and 2, no significant amount of physical pulling force in a direction 222 perpendicular to a circumferential direction (i.e. direction 221) along the strap 202 of the tourniquet 200 is necessary when it is being released by unfolding of the length portion 206 of the strap 202.

As exemplified by the embodiments of a tourniquet 100, 200 in figures 1 to 6, the strap 102, 202 may comprise hooks 108, 208, on one side along its complete length. However, although it is not illustrated in any of the figures, alternative embodiments include those where the strap 102, 202 is provided with hooks only partly along the length. That is, in such embodiments essentially only the length portion 106, 206 is configured with hooks. Moreover, it is to be noted that the hooks 108, 208 may be any appropriate "hook- shape", for example "J"-shaped, "C"-shaped etc.

A method of manufacturing a tourniquet, such as any of the tourniquets 100, 200 exemplified above, may comprise a number of actions that may be performed, e.g., manually or more automatically by appropriate machinery. Such actions comprise providing a strap 102, 202, the strap 102, 202 comprising a length portion 106, 206 that comprises, on one side, a plurality of hooks 108, 208. The strap 102, 202 is then provided with an anchoring entity 1 10, 210 by any of attaching a buckle 110 to the strap 102, and creating a cut-out 210 in the strap 202, wherein creating a cut-out is followed by arranging a brace 212 at the cut-out 210.

With regard to the types of material or materials that may be used when manufacturing a tourniquet as described herein, it has been found that synthetic or semi-synthetic materials are appropriate. For example, a strap may comprise a first type of synthetic plastic material and hooks on the strap may be made of the same first type or another type of synthetic plastic, including nylon. A buckle may be made of a metal such as Aluminium or a synthetic material such as nylon.