Patent ID: 11896356
Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A method of manufacturing a blood pressure cuff, comprising:
providing a first sheet of a first material, the first sheet having a first port opening, a first axis extending substantially centrally through the first port opening;
providing a second sheet of a second material, the second sheet having a second port opening, wherein a second axis extends substantially centrally through the second port opening, and the first material is weldable to the second material;
providing a third sheet of a third material, the third sheet having a third port opening, a third axis extending substantially centrally through the third port opening;
providing a fourth sheet of a fourth material, the fourth sheet having a fourth port opening, a fourth axis extending substantially centrally through the fourth port opening;
providing a first port and a second port;
forming a perimeter seal segment, the perimeter seal segment sealing the first sheet, the second sheet, the third sheet, and the fourth sheet together such that:
the first sheet is disposed adjacent to the second sheet,
the third sheet is disposed adjacent to the first sheet,
the first axis extends substantially collinear with the third axis,
the second sheet is disposed adjacent to the fourth sheet, and
the second axis extends substantially collinear with the fourth axis;

forming a lateral seal segment, the lateral seal segment that defines a first bladder and a second bladder, wherein:
the first bladder is bounded laterally by the lateral seal segment and a first portion of the perimeter seal segment opposite the lateral seal segment,
the second bladder is bounded laterally by the lateral seal segment and a second portion of the perimeter seal segment opposite the lateral seal segment, the first portion of the perimeter seal segment forming a first free end of the cuff, and the second portion of the perimeter seal segment forming a second free end of the cuff opposite and separate from the first free end,
the first and second bladders are bounded longitudinally by a third portion of the perimeter seal segment and by a fourth portion of the perimeter seal segment opposite the third portion, the third portion forming a third free end of the cuff, and the fourth portion forming a fourth free end of the cuff opposite and separate from the third free end;

forming a first port seal, the first port seal sealing the first port to the first sheet about a first perimeter of the first port, at least part of the first port extending through the first port opening; and
forming a second port seal, the second port seal sealing the second port to the second sheet about a second perimeter of the second port, at least part of the second port extending through the second port opening.