Vacuum instrument for slowing or arresting the flow of blood
View Patent ↗The invention provides a surgical vacuum device including a vacuum cup sized for attachment to and manipulation of a target tissue. The device further includes a vacuum hose for applying a vacuum to the interior of the cup, and structure for applying a tensioning force to the cup once it has been placed and a vacuum applied. The vacuum device may be utilized with minimal or no trauma to the target tissue or surrounding tissues.
1. A method of slowing the flow of blood from a bodily tissue comprising:
positioning the opening of a vacuum cup over the bleeding site, wherein the vacuum cup includes an interior cavity;
applying a vacuum to the interior cavity of the vacuum cup so as to cause pooling of the blood flow;
maintaining the vacuum until the flow of blood has slowed;
releasing the vacuum upon slowing the blood flow; and
removing the vacuum cup from the bleeding site after releasing the vacuum.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bleeding site is selected from the group consisting of a wound, a rupture and a laceration.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cup is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, silastic, silicone, and metal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cup is formed of transparent polyethylene material.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is released when the blood flow has slowed and the bleeding site can be further treated.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is released immediately once the blood flow has slowed.
7. A method of addressing the flow of blood from a bodily tissue comprising:
positioning the opening of a vacuum cup over the bleeding site, wherein the vacuum cup has a side wall edge, wherein the vacuum cup includes an interior cavity;
applying a vacuum to the interior cavity of the vacuum cup so as to cause one or both of pooling and slowing of the blood flow;
maintaining the vacuum;
releasing the vacuum upon one or both of pooling and slowing of the blood flow; and
removing the vacuum cup from the bodily tissue.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bleeding site includes a site of one or more of a wound, rupture and trauma.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bleeding site includes a site of hematoma.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bleeding site includes a site of laceration.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bleeding site includes a site of injury.
12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a check valve, wherein the check valve allows blood to be drawn away from the side wall edge.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bleeding site includes a site of surgery.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bleeding site includes an incision site.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the site is accessed via a laparoscope.
16. A method of treating a rupture in a blood vessel in a body tissue comprising:
positioning the opening of a vacuum cup over the site of blood vessel rupture, wherein the vacuum cup includes an interior cavity;
applying a vacuum to the interior cavity of the vacuum cup so as to cause pooling of the blood from the site of blood vessel rupture;
maintaining the vacuum until the flow of blood from the ruptured blood vessel has slowed;
releasing the vacuum upon slowing the blood flow; and
removing the vacuum cup from the ruptured blood vessel site after releasing the vacuum.