Tamponade device
In embodiments of the invention, an inflatable elastic-balloon-type tamponade device provides improved control of bleeding within a wound or other cavity by virtue of a suction element, disposed on the outside of the device, to which suction is applied after insertion of the tamponade device into the wound or other cavity. Embodiments of the invention may further include cladding elements disposed on the outside surface of the balloon in such a way that when the tamponade device is in its uninflated state, the cladding elements form a kind of housing that facilitates insertion of the tamponade device into the wound or other cavity and that encases the balloon and other elements that may be disposed on or in the balloon so as protect them from damage, during insertion, from sharp foreign objects that may be in the wound or cavity.
1 . An elastic-balloon-type tamponade device for controlling bleeding in a cavity, the tamponade device comprising
an inflatable, at least partially elastic, balloon having a distal end and a proximal end,
an inflation portal for applying an inflation medium to the interior of the balloon to inflate the balloon,
a suction element disposed on the outside surface of the balloon, and
a suction portal connected to the suction element,
wherein the suction element is configured in such a way that suction applied to the suction element via the suction portal when the tamponade device has been inserted into the cavity is distributed throughout portions of the suction element and thereupon into the cavity, whereby internal walls of the cavity are drawn closer, and/or more tightly, to the surface of the tamponade device than would otherwise be the case,
and wherein the suction portal comprises a suction conduit extending through the interior of the balloon and through a distal end of the balloon and terminating on or within the suction element, at least a portion of the suction element being disposed on the distal end of the balloon.
2 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 1 wherein the suction element is comprised of a porous foam.
3 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 1 wherein the suction element is comprised of a central region and one or more arms extending out from the central region along the surface of the balloon.
4 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 3 wherein the suction element's central region is disposed on the distal end of the balloon.
5 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 4 wherein the one or more arms of the suction element extend out along the surface of the balloon from the central region of the suction element from the distal end of the balloon toward the proximal end of the balloon.
6 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 1 further comprising one or more cladding elements at or on the exterior surface of the balloon, the cladding elements being configured in such a way that at least a portion of the balloon is contained within a housing formed by the one or more cladding elements when the tamponade device is uninflated.
7 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 6 wherein the one or more cladding elements are semi-rigid or rigid.
8 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 6 wherein the one or more cladding elements extend along the surface of the balloon from a distal end of the balloon toward the proximal end of the balloon.
9 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 6 wherein the suction element and the one or more cladding elements are further configured in such a way that at least a portion of the suction element is also contained within said housing when the tamponade device is uninflated.
10 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 9 wherein the suction element is comprised of a central region and one or more arms extending along the surface of the tamponade device in between respective pairs of the cladding elements.
11 . The elastic-balloon-type tamponade device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a) at least one valve connected to the inflation portal and b) at least one valve connected to the suction portal.