Vibrating tourniquet and methods of collecting blood using same

1. A device for collecting blood from an anatomical feature of a mammalian subject, the device comprising:

a rigid vibrating plate assembly structured and arranged to push against the anatomical feature from which blood is collected;

a housing portion releasably connectable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly;

a first biasing device attached to the housing portion and releasably attachable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein the first biasing device is structured and arranged to constrict blood flow in the anatomical feature;

a second biasing device disposed between the housing portion and the rigid vibrating plate assembly, such that the second biasing device is structured and arranged to bias the rigid vibrating plate assembly against the anatomical feature; and

a plurality of vibrating motors located beneath the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein vibrations generated by the vibrating motors are configured to enhance blood flow in and to the anatomical feature.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid vibrating plate assembly comprises a plurality of ribs.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing device is selected from the group consisting of an elastic device, an elastic band, a rubber device, and a rubber band.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing device comprises a hook and pile combination.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one power source.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the power source is a battery.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a post portion fixedly attached to the rigid vibrating plate assembly,

wherein the second biasing device is disposed about the post portion and structured and arranged to bias the rigid vibrating motors against the vibrating plate assembly.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second biasing device comprises a spring.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a leaf spring mechanism that is structured and arranged to provide an auto-start condition when the leaf spring mechanism is compressed.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing device comprises a pull tab.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rigid vibrating plate assembly comprises a plurality of quick connect projections for releasably attaching the rigid vibrating plate assembly to the housing portion.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the quick connect projections are configured to mate with corresponding openings formed in the housing portion.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board that is releasably attachable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the printed circuit board comprises an opening through which a post portion extends.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein a leaf spring mechanism for placing the device in an ON state is fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the printed circuit board.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the leaf spring mechanism comprises an S-shaped mechanism.

17. A method of collecting capillary blood from an anatomical feature of a mammalian subject, the method comprising:

providing a tourniquet device to constrict blood flow in the anatomical feature, the tourniquet device further comprising:

a rigid vibrating plate assembly structured and arranged to push against the anatomical feature from which blood is collected;

a housing portion releasably connectable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly;

a first biasing device attached to the housing portion and releasably attachable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein the first biasing device is structured and arranged to constrict blood flow in the anatomical feature;

a second biasing device disposed between the housing portion and the rigid vibrating plate assembly, such that the second biasing device is structured and arranged to bias the rigid vibrating plate assembly against the anatomical feature; and

a plurality of vibrating motors located beneath the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein vibrations generated by the vibrating motors enhance blood flow in and to the anatomical feature;

positioning the first biasing device over the anatomical feature retained in the rigid vibrating plate assembly;

releasably attaching the first biasing device to the rigid vibrating plate assembly to constrict blood flow in the anatomical feature; and

producing vibrations by the vibrating motors, such that the vibrations are configured to translate to the anatomical feature retained in the rigid vibrating plate assembly, thereby increasing blood flow into the capillaries in the anatomical feature for collection.

18. A device for collecting blood from an anatomical feature of a mammalian subject, the device comprising:

a rigid vibrating plate assembly structured and arranged to push against the anatomical feature from which blood is collected;

a housing portion releasably connectable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly;

a first biasing device attached to the housing portion and releasably attachable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein the first biasing device is structured and arranged to constrict blood flow in the anatomical feature;

a printed circuit board that is releasably attachable to the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein a leaf spring mechanism for placing the device in an ON state is fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the printed circuit board; and

a plurality of vibrating motors located beneath the rigid vibrating plate assembly, wherein vibrations generated by the vibrating motors are configured to enhance blood flow in and to the anatomical feature.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the leaf spring mechanism comprises an S-shaped mechanism.