Internal tourniquet system
An internal tourniquet system may comprise as many as eight tourniquets strategically positioned, two per extremity, so as to optimize the inversely proportional relationship between the force applied to the tourniquet and the blood flow from the laceration on the extremity farther from the body than the positioned tourniquet. Each garment is equipped with internal channels to position the tourniquets and each garment is equipped with removable covering flaps for ease of access to the tightening and securing mechanism on the tourniquets. Each garment may also be supplied with a lever or bar and a storage location on the garment in order to apply more torque if necessary to the tourniquet banded site. And each garment may also be supplied with such flaps that are able to secure the lever or bar in position, once to blood flow has ceased to an acceptable level.
1 . An internal tourniquet system for use by a person in a high risk activity comprising:
a circumferential enclosed channel formed in an appendage portion of the garment;
a tourniquet with a tightening and securing mechanism positioned in the circumferential enclosed channel on the appendage portion of the garment for applying a tourniquet force to the inside wall of the circumferential enclosed channel; and
a portal in the garment placed on the circumferential enclosed channel to provide access to the tourniquet for allowing operating the tightening and securing mechanism of the tourniquet.
2 . An internal tourniquet system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a removable flap with temporary securing means placed over the portal in the garment for covering the portal during non-use of the tourniquet.
3 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the circumferential enclosed channel being located on the centerline of the first tourniquet on the upper extremities at the superior position of the bicep.
4 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the circumferential enclosed channel being located on the centerline of the second tourniquet on the upper extremities at two centimeters below the elbow of the user.
5 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the circumferential enclosed channel being located on the centerline of the first tourniquet on the lower extremities at two centimeters below the inguinal crease.
6 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the circumferential enclosed channel being located on the centerline of the second tourniquet on the lower extremities at two centimeters distal to the tibial tuberosity.
7 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a bar to apply additional torque to the tourniquet band; and
a storage location on the garment for the bar when not in use.
8 . An internal tourniquet system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a removable flap covering to secure the bar in position once desired torque is reached.
9 . A method for protecting a person in a high risk activity using an internal tourniquet system comprising the steps of:
forming a circumferential enclosed channel in an appendage portion of the garment;
positioning a tourniquet with a tightening and securing mechanism in the circumferential enclosed channel on the appendage portion of the garment for applying a tourniquet force to the inside wall of the circumferential enclosed channel; and
forming a portal in the garment on the circumferential enclosed channel to provide access to the tourniquet for allowing operating the tightening and securing mechanism of the tourniquet.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a removable flap with temporary securing means over the portal in the garment for covering the portal during non-use of the tourniquet.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning the circumferential enclosed channel on the centerline of the first tourniquet on the upper extremities at the superior position of the bicep.
12 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning the circumferential enclosed channel on the centerline of the second tourniquet on the upper extremities at two centimeters below the elbow of the user.
13 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning the circumferential enclosed channel on the centerline of the first tourniquet on the lower extremities at two centimeters below the inguinal crease.
14 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
Positioning the circumferential enclosed channel on the centerline of the second tourniquet on the lower extremities at two centimeters distal to the tibial tuberosity.
15 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a storage location on the garment for a bar for the tourniquet band when not in use.
16 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
forming a removable flap covering to secure the bar in position once desired torque is reached.