HEMOSTATIC GAUZE POUCH

Abstract

A pouch for carrying hemostatic gauze packages securely fastens to the equipment on a utility belt such as a tourniquet holder and is easily accessible in an emergency situation. The pouch can hold up to two packages of compressed advanced clotting gauze that are removed from the pouch by a deployment ribbon.

Description

CROSS EFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/255,575 filed on Oct. 14, 2021, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a pouch for carrying hemostatic gauze packages that securely fastens to the equipment on a utility belt, such as a tourniquet holder, making it easily accessible in an emergency situation. More specifically, the pouch can hold up to two packages of compressed advanced clotting gauze that are removably attached to the pouch by a deployment ribbon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many first responders, such as law enforcement officers and security personal, carry life-saving tourniquets on their utility belts in specially made holders. This enables the first responders to easily identify the tourniquet on their utility belt in an emergency situation. In addition, it can also be identified in low light conditions. An accepted practice when encountering a victim who is severely hemorrhaging, is to attempt to stop the bleeding by applying hemostatic gauze and a tourniquet to the affected area. When the affected area is a limb, a trained professional may apply a tourniquet in addition to gauze to help stop the bleeding. The application of hemostatic gauze with a tourniquet has proven effective at staunching hemorrhaging and saving lives. Lastly, hemostatic gauze may be the only recourse if the hemorrhaging is on certain parts of the body such as the neck, axilla, and inguinal area making the use of a tourniquet unfeasible.

Currently, first responders carry hemostatic gauze in emergency kits or bags while the tourniquet is on their utility belt either in a holder or attached to equipment. When both the tourniquet and hemostatic gauze are carried together, first responders can save precious seconds or minutes by not having to dig through their kit for access to the gauze.

Therefore, there exists a need for an easily accessible pouch that can hold hemostatic packages that is readily accessible on a user’s utility belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a pouch for carrying hemostatic gauze packages. The pouch comprises a pouch cavity, wherein the pouch cavity comprises an interior back surface, an interior bottom surface, an interior front surface and an exterior back surface; a lid, wherein the lid comprises hook and loop tape for temporary attachment to the pouch cavity; a deployment ribbon, wherein the deployment ribbon comprises a deployment ribbon first end and a deployment ribbon second end, wherein the deployment ribbon second end is permanently affixed to the interior back surface of the pouch cavity by thread; and an elastic loop, wherein the elastic loop is permanently affixed to the exterior back surface of the pouch cavity by thread.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pouch cavity and lid comprise a durable water-resistant material. In an exemplary embodiment, the elastic loop comprises a durable elastic material.

In one embodiment, the pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 1” in depth. In an alternate embodiment, the pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 2.5” in depth.

In yet another embodiment, the hemostatic gauze pouch comprises a pouch cavity, wherein the pouch cavity comprises an interior back surface, an interior bottom surface, an interior front surface and an exterior back surface; a lid, wherein the lid comprises hook and loop tape for temporary attachment to the pouch cavity; a deployment ribbon, wherein the deployment ribbon comprises a deployment ribbon first end and a deployment ribbon second end, wherein the deployment ribbon second end is permanently affixed to the interior back surface of the pouch cavity by thread; and an elastic loop, wherein the elastic loop is permanently affixed to the exterior back surface of the pouch cavity by thread; and a drain hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pouch cavity and lid comprise a durable water-resistant material. In an exemplary embodiment, the elastic loop comprises a durable elastic material.

In one embodiment, the pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 1” in depth. In an alternate embodiment, the pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 2.5” in depth.

In an alternate embodiment, the drain hole comprises a metal alloy and is about 9/16” in diameter with a center opening of about 9/32”. The center opening enables unwanted water to be removed from the pouch after the pouch is submerged in water or any other type of liquid. For example, when a user’s utility belt is filled with rain from a storm, the excess water in the pouch will be expelled through the drain hole by gravity.

In one embodiment, the method for using the hemostatic gauze pouch comprises (a) lining the deployment ribbon along the interior bottom surface of the pouch cavity; (b) inserting up to two hemostatic packages into the pouch cavity; (c) ensuring the deployment ribbon first end is tucked in between the lid and the pouch cavity; and (d) closing the lid.

In an alternate embodiment, the method for unloading hemostatic packages comprises (a) opening lid and (b) pulling on the deployment ribbon first end to expel the hemostatic packages.

In yet another embodiment, the method for using the hemostatic gauze pouch comprises (a) placing one hemostatic package into the pouch cavity against the interior back surface; (b) lining the deployment ribbon along the hemostatic package in the pouch cavity and the interior bottom surface of the pouch cavity and up the interior front surface making a “U” shape; (c) inserting another hemostatic package into the pouch cavity in the “U” made by the deployment ribbon; (d) ensuring the deployment ribbon first end is tucked in between the lid and the pouch cavity; and (e) closing the lid.

In an alternate embodiment, the method for unloading a hemostatic package comprises (a) opening lid and (b) pulling on the deployment ribbon first end to expel one hemostatic package while the second hemostatic package remains in the pouch cavity.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, along with the accompanying figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the front view of an exemplary embodiment of a hemostatic gauze pouch.

FIG. 2 depicts the rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a hemostatic gauze pouch.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a hemostatic gauze pouch.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the inside of an exemplary embodiment of a hemostatic gauze pouch.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a hemostatic gauze pouch attached to a tourniquet holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the present invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Any publications cited in this description are incorporated by reference herein. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “into” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the term “about” in conjunction with a numeral refers to a range of that numeral starting from 10% below the absolute value of the numeral to 10% above the absolute value of the numeral, inclusive.

As used herein, the terms “hemostatic gauze pouch” and “pouch” are used interchangeably throughout the disclosure.

The present invention is directed to a hemostatic gauze pouch that is attached to a tourniquet holder or equipment on a utility belt for ease of access during an emergency situation involving severe hemorrhaging. The hemostatic gauze pouch is specifically designed to be worn in conjunction with a tourniquet holder or on adjacent equipment such as a weapon holster so that both are readily available to a user wearing the utility belt. One specific advantage of the hemostatic gauze pouch is the deployment ribbon which enables a user, e.g., a first responder to dispense the gauze without any delay and apply the gauze much faster than current practice.

The hemostatic gauze pouch is capable of storing a plurality of hemostatic gauze packages. In one embodiment, the pouch can store one hemostatic gauze package, wherein the pouch is secured on the tourniquet holder by a closed loop of elastic material that slips over the body of the equipment on a utility belt such as a tourniquet holder. In another embodiment, the pouch can store two hemostatic packages depending on the dimensions of the gauze packages. The lid is secured to the body of the hemostatic gauze pouch by hook and loop tape. In addition, a drain hole is on the bottom center of the pouch that is configured for easy draining in case the pouch is submerged in liquid.

Exemplary configurations of the present invention are depicted in FIGS. 1-5, in which hemostatic gauze pouch 100 is configured to be worn on tourniquet holder 81 or similar equipment on a utility belt (see FIG. 5). In one embodiment, hemostatic gauze pouch 100 comprises lid 10, pouch cavity 30, interior back surface 11, interior bottom surface 12, interior front surface 13, hook and loop tape 20, elastic loop 50, wherein elastic loop 50 is permanently affixed to exterior back surface 31 (see FIG. 2), and deployment ribbon 60. In an embodiment, deployment ribbon 60 comprises deployment ribbon first end 90 and deployment ribbon second end 91 wherein deployment ribbon second end 91 is permanently affixed to interior back surface 11 by thread (see FIG. 4).

In one embodiment, material of construction for pouch 100 comprises resilient durable material such as polyester or nylon, or any combination thereof.

In another embodiment, material of construction for pouch 100 comprises resilient durable material capable of repelling water such as polyurethane laminate. Material of construction for elastic loop 50 comprises durable material capable of stretching such as rubber, polymer of isoprene, and neoprene, a synthetic polymer of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, or any combination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art can envision other types of material of construction for pouch 100 and elastic loop 50 that are within the scope of the present invention.

In an exemplary embodiment, pouch 100 is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about ½” in depth enabling a user to store one hemostatic package 80 within pouch cavity 30. In yet another embodiment, pouch 100 is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 1” in depth enabling a user to store at least two hemostatic packages 80 within pouch cavity 30 (see FIG. 4). In an embodiment, the dimensions of pouch 100 can be configured to contain more than two hemostatic packages.

In one embodiment, hemostatic gauze pouch 100 is a single piece construction wherein lid 10 is removably attached to pouch cavity 30 by hook and loop tape 20 (see FIG. 1). Elastic loop 50 is permanently attached to exterior back surface 31 of pouch 100 by sewing half of elastic loop 50 into side seams of exterior back surface 31 (see FIG. 3). Pouch 100 is removably attached to tourniquet holder 81 by sliding elastic loop 50 over body of tourniquet holder 81. In this embodiment, elastic loop 50 slides over tourniquet holder 81 so as to not interfere with the functionality of tourniquet holder clip 82 (see FIG. 5).

In an embodiment, deployment ribbon 60 is about 8” in length, ¾” in width, and is permanently attached to interior back surface 11 of hemostatic gauze pouch 100 by thread. Deployment ribbon 60 lies along interior back surface 11, interior bottom surface 12, and interior front surface 13 of pouch 100 underneath hemostatic packages 80 with deployment ribbon first end 90 tucked under lid 10 when pouch 100 is in a closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Placement of deployment ribbon 60 is essential to the proper deployment of hemostatic packages 80 in an emergency situation. To use pouch 100, a user opens lid 10 and pulls deployment ribbon first end 90 resulting in hemostatic packages 80 propelling out of hemostatic gauze pouch 100 (see FIG. 4).

In an alternate embodiment, deployment ribbon 60 can be positioned to expel one hemostatic package 80 from pouch 100 depending on the user’s preference.

To configure pouch 100 to expel one hemostatic package 80, one hemostatic package 80 is placed against interior back surface 11 of pouch cavity 30. Next, deployment ribbon 60 is placed along hemostatic package 80 down to interior bottom surface 12 and then up along interior front surface 13 making an empty “U” shape with deployment ribbon 60. Then, another hemostatic package 80 is placed in the middle of the “U” made by deployment ribbon 60. Finally, deployment ribbon first end 90 is tucked under lid 10 and lid 10 is closed. To expel hemostatic package 80, lid 10 is opened and deployment ribbon first end 90 is pulled. One of ordinary skill in the art can envision other configurations for dispensing at least two packages 80 that are within the scope of the present invention.

In yet another embodiment, hemostatic gauze pouch 100 comprises lid 10, pouch cavity 30, interior back surface 11, interior bottom surface 12, interior front surface 13, hook and loop tape 20, drain hole 40, elastic loop 50, wherein elastic loop 50 is permanently affixed to exterior back surface 31 (see FIG. 2), and deployment ribbon 60. Deployment ribbon 60 comprises of deployment ribbon first end 90 and deployment ribbon second end 91 wherein deployment ribbon second end 91 is permanently affixed to interior back surface 11 by thread (see FIG. 4).

In an embodiment, material of construction for device 100 comprises resilient durable material such as polyester or nylon. In another embodiment, material of construction for device 100 comprises resilient durable material capable of repelling water such as polyurethane laminate. Material of construction for elastic loop 50 comprises durable material capable of stretching such as rubber, isoprene, and neoprene, a 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, or any combination thereof.

Material of construction for drain hole 40 is any metal, metal alloy, plastic, or thread. Drain hole 40 is in the shape of an eyelet, wherein drain hole 40 is about 9/16″ in diameter with a center opening of about 9/32″. One of ordinary skill in the art can envision other types of material of construction that are within the scope of the present invention.

In yet another embodiment, hemostatic gauze pouch 100 comprises hook tape on the front of lid 10 to readily accept a label comprising loop tape. In an alternate embodiment, hemostatic gauze pouch 100 comprises loop tape to readily accept a label comprising hook tape (figure not shown).

Thus, specific embodiments of hemostatic gauze pouch 100 have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

Claims

1. A hemostatic gauze pouch for carrying hemostatic gauze packages, comprising:

(a) a pouch cavity, wherein said pouch cavity comprises an interior back surface, an interior bottom surface, an interior front surface and an exterior back surface;

(b) a lid, wherein said lid comprises hook and loop tape configured to be attached to said pouch cavity;

(b) a deployment ribbon, wherein said deployment ribbon comprises a deployment ribbon first end and a deployment ribbon second end, wherein said deployment ribbon second end is permanently affixed to said interior back surface of said pouch cavity by thread; and

(c) an elastic loop, wherein said elastic loop is permanently affixed to said exterior back surface of said pouch cavity by thread.

2. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 1, wherein said pouch cavity and said lid comprise a water-resistant material such as waxed cotton, nylon polyester, oilcloth, polyester fleece, and plastic or any combination thereof.

3. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 1, wherein said elastic loop comprises an elastic material such as rubber, isoprene, and neoprene, 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, or any combination thereof.

4. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 1, wherein said hemostatic gauze pouch is about 3″ in length, about 6 ⅞″ in height, and about 1″ in depth.

5. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 1, wherein said hemostatic gauze pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 2.5” in depth.

6. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid further comprises hook and loop tape configured to accept a label on the exterior surface of said lid.

7. A hemostatic gauze pouch for carrying hemostatic gauze packages, comprising:

(a) a pouch cavity, wherein said pouch cavity comprises an interior back surface, an interior bottom surface, an interior front surface and an exterior back surface;

(b) a lid, wherein said lid comprises hook and loop tape configured to be attached to said pouch cavity;

(c) a deployment ribbon, wherein said deployment ribbon comprises a deployment ribbon first end and a deployment ribbon second end, wherein said deployment ribbon second end is permanently affixed to said interior back surface of said pouch cavity by thread; and

(d) an elastic loop, wherein said elastic loop is permanently affixed to said exterior back surface of said pouch cavity by thread; and

(e) a drain hole, wherein said drain is configured to release extra liquid from said hemostatic gauze pouch.

8. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said pouch cavity and said lid comprise a water-resistant material such as waxed cotton, nylon polyester, oilcloth, polyester fleece, and plastic or any combination thereof.

9. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said elastic loop comprises an elastic material such as rubber, isoprene, and neoprene, 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, or any combination thereof.

10. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein the material of construction for said drain hole comprises a metal alloy, plastic or thread.

11. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said hemostatic gauze pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 1” in depth.

12. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said hemostatic gauze pouch is about 3” in length, about 6 ⅞” in height, and about 2.5” in depth.

13. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said drain hole is about 9/16″ in diameter with a center opening of about 9/32″.

14. The hemostatic gauze pouch as recited in claim 7, wherein said lid further comprises hook and loop tape configured to accept a label on the exterior surface of said lid.

15. A method of using said hemostatic gauze pouch according to claim 7, comprising:

(a) lining said deployment ribbon along said interior bottom surface of said pouch cavity;

(b) inserting up to two hemostatic packages into said pouch cavity;

(c) ensuring said deployment ribbon first end is tucked in between said lid and said pouch cavity; and

(d) closing said lid; and

(e) removing said hemostatic packages by following the steps: i. first opening said lid; and ii. second pulling on said deployment ribbon first end.

16. A method of using said hemostatic gauze pouch according to claim 7, comprising:

(a) placing one hemostatic package into said pouch cavity against said interior back surface;

(b) lining said deployment ribbon along hemostatic package in said pouch cavity and along said interior bottom surface of said pouch cavity and up said interior front surface making a “U” shape;

(c) inserting another hemostatic package into said pouch cavity in said “U” shape of said deployment ribbon;

(d) ensuring said deployment ribbon first end is tucked in between said lid and said pouch cavity; and

(e) closing said lid; and

(f) removing said hemostatic package by following the steps: i. first opening said lid; and ii. second pulling on said deployment ribbon first end.