Femoral compression device for post-catheterization hemostasis

Abstract: An improved femoral arterial or venous com­ pressive device is comprised of a flexible pelvic apron (34) positioned over the femoral vessels within the human pelvis. The pelvic apron is placed in position by means for a hip strap (42). The hip straps are led from the pelvic apron upwardly over the hip points, around the small of the back and down over the opposing hip point back to the pelvic apron. The pelvic apron thus hangs from the hip points of the pelvis much like an apron. A shaped mass or pellet (24) is attached to the under side of the pelvic apron over the incision site of the femoral vessel. An elastically extensible groin strap (52) is then attached to the pelvic apron in the proximity of the shaped mass and drawn tightly through the groin, around the back of the leg, under the buttocks and back upwardly to the pelvic apron in the proximity of the shaped mass. As a result, the tensile force is applied by the groin strap across the pelvic apron up to the hip point and also around the leg. The shaped mass is forced by the tourniquet action of the groin strap and pelvic apron in combination downwardly into the pelvis, thereby compressing the underlying femoral vessel and thus in assisting in stanching any blood flow or fluid leakage.

Description: The invention relates to the field of medical sciences and in particular to devices used to facilitate femoral vascular stanching. Description of the Prior Art During cardiac catheterization and angiography, it is necessary to obtain access to the heart and other major body arteries and veins in order to visualize them with radioopaque materials. One of the preferred sites for such major vascular access is through the major femoral arteries and veins in the groin. The typical prior art procedure is to insert appropriate tubing into the femoral vessels through a small incision in the groin. The tube is later removed leaving a perforation in the femoral artery and/or vein. Normal blood clotting is utilized to render the repaired incision and vascular perforation blood-tight. Manual pressure is applied to the incision site for at least twenty minutes following removal of the tube from the artery or vein to allow for a clot of strength sufficient to withstand the arterial pressure of 120-180 mm Hg. Normally, manual pressure by trained medical personnel is sufficient to successfully clot the femoral arterial or venous perforation site and stanch the blood flow. However, despite this twenty minute time period the clot is soft and can be easily disrupted. Therefore, for some period of time thereafter it is advantageous to maintain a compressive force on the femoral puncture site to ensure that it remains stanched. The typical prior art procedure is to manufacture a thick pad of gauze which is placed over the site and taped securely to the patient's hip and groin in order to secure it in place and to maintain some compressive force over the incision site. The compressive force is generated and maintained by virtue of the bulk of the folded gauze pad pressed downwardly by the adhesive tape which is laid over the pad and which is attached on either side of the incision site to adjacent portions of the hip and groin. Pursuant to the normal usage of such gauze and adhesive tape bandages, all contiguous areas of the incision site must be shaved and coated with an antiseptic and/or skin toughening agent. Approximately twenty-four hours later the bandages can be removed. However, a considerable amount of the body area in the area of the hip and groin is taped so that removal of the bandages is often an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for the patient. Often some abrasion or skin tearing results and at the very least, there is some infliction of sharp temporary pain since the body area has been traumatized and is tender. Further, in many cases, patients may develop an allergic reaction to the adhesive or antiseptic applied to the body causing further tenderness and pain upon removal of the tape. Further, if in the event that movement by the patient causes the blood clot to be damaged or dislodged, it may be necessary to reapply manual pressure and apply a new compression pad to the patient. In such a case, the old bandage must be quickly removed and the new bandage applied with the result that the patient may be subjected to the pain and discomfort of bandaging and unbandaging several times during the initial convalescence. To avoid each of these drawbacks, the prior art has devised a groin compression device known as the Colapinto compression device, named after its creator in Canada. The Colapinto compression device is manufactured and sold under that name by Cook of Bloomington, Indiana. Figure 1 is a frontal view of a patient bearing the prior art Colapinto device, generally denoted by reference numeral 10. Figure 2 is a side view of the patient wearing the Colapinto device of Figure 1. Briefly, the Colapinto device 10 includes a groin pad 12 which has a bi-lobed shape. A waist strap 14 is sewn at end 16 to groin pad 12 and wraps around the lower hips below the hip points, across the upper part of the buttocks and around the buttocks to the other side of the groin pad 12 where strap 14 is attached at end 18 by means of a Velcro attachment ("Velcro" is a Registered Trade Mark) provided to end 18 of strap 14 and the corresponding proximate portion of groin pad 12. Sewn to the lower centre portion of groin pad 12 are two stabilizing straps 20 which are drawn between the legs and around the lower portion of each buttock and attached at end 22 to a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastener on strap 14 to the middle of the side of the hip as depicted in Figure 2 below the hip point. The purpose and function of straps 20 are to provide only stabilization to groin pad 12 and they do not add in any material way to the compressive force applied by groin pad 12 to the underlying femoral arterial or venous incision site. Shown in dotted outline in the left groin region under groin pad 12 in Figure 1 is a styrofoam pellet in the shape of a sector of a sphere with a flattened pole. The diameter or cord of the sector is approximately 7.3 cm (2 7 / 8") with the thickness of the pellet from the flattened pole face to the base defined by the section is approximately one inch. Pellet 24 therefore is roughly hemispherical with a flattened pole face of approximately an inch across and serves to replace the equivalent amount of folded gauze to define the pressure point against the femoral arterial or venous incision. Two material characteristics of the Colapinto compression device should be immediately noted. Firstly, the compressive force applied to pellet 24 by device 10 is substantially if not entirely created by virtue of the tension of waist strap 14. Pellet 24 is disposed on the relatively flattened front portion of the groin and the amount of downward compressive force which can be developed on pellet 24 by virtue of the tension of waist strap 14 is significantly limited. Secondly, the Colapinto compression device can be used only either on the left or on the right femoral arterial site. For example, in the depiction of Figure 1, if application to the left femoral arterial site was desired, pellet 24, which is attached by means of a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastening device to the back of groin pad 12, can be shifted to the left side of groin pad 12 and the entire groin pad similarly shifted to the left to position pellet 24 over the arterial site. The size and extent of groin pad 12 of the Colapinto device is not sufficient to allow simultaneous application to both left and right femoral arterial sites. In any case, it is unlikely that sufficient compressive force could be developed if two pellets were positioned underneath groin pad 12. GB-A-1442809 discloses a truss comprising a body portion adapted to encircle a wearer provided, at the front of the truss, with a downwardly tapering extension from which a leg strap extends. The loose end of the leg strap is securable to the back of the truss at an adjusting means. A rupture pad is located beneath the tapered extension of the body portion. FR-1,388,168 discloses a tourniquet comprising a belt for encircling a wearer having a hook positionable on to the side of the wearer. The hook can receive a pad tourniquet encircling the wearer's legs which can be tightened and buckled in place. Therefore, what is needed is a compression device which overcomes each of the defects of the prior art and in particular which can apply a large and adjustable compression force to either the left or the right femoral vascular sites, or to both. The present invention is as claimed in claim 1. The pelvic portion may comprise a flexible pelvic apron piece and a flexible hip strap having two ends. Each end is attached to the pelvic apron piece. The hip strap positions the pelvic apron piece on the human body. The human body is characterised by having hip points defined by pelvic bones and the hip strap preferably extends from the pelvic apron over the hip points. The flexible pelvic apron piece is substantially non-extensible and the hip strap is elastically extensible. The groin portion may be an elastically extensible strap having two ends. One end of the groin strap is attached to the pelvic apron piece in the proximity of the pellet. The groin strap is led through the groin of the human body around the corresponding leg and attached to the pelvic apron piece in the proximity of the pellet. The invention and its various embodiments are better visualized by now turning to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front plan view of a prior art device shown as applied to a patient; Figure 2 is a side view of the prior art device depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front plan view of a compression device devised according to the invention; Figure 4 is a side view of the compression device as applied to the patient as seen in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the compression device of the invention as would be seen through section lines 5-5 of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a front plan view of the compression device shown in broken away plan view as would be seen if the device were laid out flat. The invention and its various embodiments may be better understood by now turning to the following detailed description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An improved femoral arterial and venous compressive device is comprised of a flexible pelvic apron positioned over the femoral arteries and veins within the human pelvis. The pelvic apron is placed in position by means of a hip strap. The hip straps are led from the pelvic apron upwardly over the hip points, around the small of the back and down over the opposing hip point back to the pelvic apron. The pelvic apron thus hangs from the hip points of the pelvis much like an apron. A shaped mass or pellet is attached to the under side of the pelvic apron over the puncture or incision site of the femoral vessels. An elastically extensible groin strap is then attached to the pelvic apron in the proximity of the shaped mass and drawn tightly through the groin, around the back of the leg, under the buttocks and back upwardly to the pelvic apron in the proximity of the shaped mass. As a result, the tensile force is applied by the groin strap across the pelvic apron up to the hip point and also around the leg. The shaped mass is forced by the tourniquet action of the groin strap and pelvic apron in combination downwardly into the pelvis, thereby compressing the underlying femoral artery and vein, and thus assisting in stanching any blood flow or fluid leakage. The compression device of the invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 30, is depicted in the elevational plan view of Figure 3 as fitted to a patient 32. The compression device 30, also to be known as the Kurth compression device, is comprised of a pelvic apron 34 made of a rubberized or substantially non-extensible fabric. As better depicted in plan view in Figure 6, where Kurth compression device 30 is laid out flatly, pelvic apron 34 has a generally flattened V-shape comprised of a right upwardly extending leg 36, a bottom and mid-section 38 and a correspondingly left upwardly extending leg 40. Pelvic apron 34 of the Kurth compression device 30 differs from the Colapinto groin pad 12 in at least two significant respects. Firstly, pelvic apron 34 of Kurth compression device 30 is broader and spans the entire frontal pelvic region of patient 32. Thus, pelvic apron 34 is of sufficient size and extent such that a pellet, such as pellet 24 shown in Figure 1, and shown in dotted outline in Figure 3 and in a bottom perspective view in Figure 6, can be placed over either the left or right femoral site or both without shifting the position of pelvic apron 34 on patient 32. Secondly, upwardly extending portions 36 and 40 of pelvic apron 34 extend at a sharper angle to the horizontal than do the corresponding portions of the Colapinto device of Figures 1 and 2. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the angle of pelvic apron 34 is such that elastic strap 42 which lies along the line or direction of portion 40, for example, extends upwardly at an angle so that strap 42 lies directly over the patient's hip points or pelvic hip bones. As best depicted in Figure 6, strap 42 is an elastic strap approximately 7.62 cm (three inches) across as opposed to the Colapinto device which uses a 5.03 cm (two-inch) strap. Strap 42 is sewn at one end to pelvic apron 34 and has a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastening patch 46 sewn to its outer surface overlying portion 40 of hip plate 34. A similar Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch 48 is sewn to the opposing portion 36. In the illustrated embodiment, Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patches 46 and 48 act as hard hooks which are arranged and configured to engage a corresponding felt patch which acts as eyes of the Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastener. As shown in side view in Figure 4, strap 42 is drawn upwardly over the hip bone and across the lower back of patient 32 and attached to the upper portion of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch 48 as depicted in Figure 3. Thus, on the inside surface of strap 42 is a soft Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) strip of eyes (not shown) which can be placed against the hard Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) hooks on patch 48. The angle of strap 42 as it attaches to patch 48 is generally parallel to the angle of portion 36 of pelvic apron 34 and also rides over the adjacent hip point. Pellet 24, which is shown in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 3, is attached to pelvic apron 34 over the right femoral vascular site and prior to the attachment of groin elastic strap 52 has at this time very little compressive force applied to it. Pellet 24 is maintained in place and connected to the under side of pelvic apron 34 by a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) attachment which is sewn to the appropriate position on the under side of pelvic apron 34 (not shown). An opposing and corresponding Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) attachment patch 50 is glued or otherwise attached to the bottom of plastic or styrofoam pellet 24 as shown in perspective view in Figure 6. Because of the spatial extent of both patch 50, pellet 24 and the corresponding patch on the bottom side of pelvic apron 34, the exact position of pellet 24 can be varied with a fair degree of latitude to position it directly over the incision site. In any case, after pelvic apron 34 has been secured to the patient by means of hip strap 42, it is positioned on the under side of pelvic apron 34, which at this point would essentially hang loosely downward if the patient were to stand. The Kurth compression device 30 further comprises a separate compression strap 52 which is an identical elastic strap approximately 22 inches long, as depicted in broken plan view in Figure 6. Groin strap 52 is provided with a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch on its under side (not shown) which is laid against Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch 46 sewn to pelvic apron 34. The opposing side of strap 52 is also provided with a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch 54, which in the illustrated embodiment is comprised of the hard Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) hooks. Strap 52 is laid on and connected to pelvic apron 34 and the hip strap 42 in such a manner that it would lie approximately colinearly with the line of portion 40 of apron 34 and with strap 42, if they were laid out on a flat surface as shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, strap 52 is extended between the patient's legs, around the back of the leg, underneath the buttock, against the back of the leg and back to the attachment location on portion 40 close to or actually overlapping pellet 24. Groin strap 52 thus has a sewn Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch on its under side on end 56, which patch can be laid across and attached to Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) patch 54 on the opposing end 58 of groin strap 52. Thus, one end of hip strap 42 and both ends of groin strap 52 join at the same general location on pelvic apron 34 above or in the close proximity of pellet 24. As will be better understood by turning to the sectional view of Figure 5, as described below, a nearly unlimited amount of compressive force can be applied to pellet 24 as a result of this configuration. Groin strap 52 may be removed from the right side of pelvic apron 34 as shown in Figure 3 and reattached in a similar manner to the left side. More specifically, strap 52 is placed and attached to its Velcro pad to Velcro patch 48 sewn into portion 36 of pelvic apron 34 and laid in a line of direction approximately colinear with the line of portion 36 and hip strap 42 which is connected to the opposing end of pad 48. Groin strap 52 is then drawn between the legs and again across the upper portion of the back leg underneath the buttock to reattach to its opposing end on top of pelvic apron 34 and patch 48. In such a case, pellet 24 would be moved to the left side of pelvic apron 34 or an additional pellet 24 would be inserted therein. Therefore, it is also possible that two such groin straps would be attached and included within the Kurth compression device 30. Turn now to Figure 5 wherein the mechanics of the Kurth compression device 30 may be better understood and depicted. Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of patient 32 as would be seen in a section through lines 5-5 of Figure 4 looking upwardly. The left femoral artery is denoted by reference numeral 60. Pellet 24 is positioned on the groin immediately above artery 60 and held in place by means of pelvic apron 34. Groin strap 52 then attaches to pelvic apron 34 above pellet 24 and wraps around the leg back across pelvic apron 34 and attaches to the top of opposing end 58 of strap 52. The human body presents a complex shape and the interrelationship of stresses distributed throughout Kurth compression device 30 is similarly complex. It cannot be totally analytically understood with absolute quantified certainty how the physics of device 30 actually distributes tensile forces to result in certain compressive forces. However, it can be graphically seen in Figure 5 that groin strap 52 may serve as a tourniquet which tightens on the groin where the leg attaches to the hip. It is also believed that a lever action may be achieved which is pivoted on the hip point and concentrated by the relatively sharp curvature of the groin at the femoral arterial site. As strap 52 is tightened according to its manual attachment as described above, the amount of compressive force applied to pellet 24 can be varied. The difference in the amount of compressive force which can be applied to pellet 24 by the Kurth compression device 30 as compared to the Colapinto compression device of Figures 1 and 2 is substantial and immediately noticeable by patient 32. The compressive force which can be applied by Kurth compression device 30 is sufficient, if desired, to totally close off artery 60. Lesser degrees of force from complete closure to virtually no compressive force can be applied by adjusting the tension on the strap 52. The sectional view of Figure 5 also illustrates the aspect of the invention wherein a second pellet 24 is placed over the right femoral artery 62. For the sake of clarity, no groin strap 52 is shown connected to pelvic apron 34 and therefore virtually no compressive force is applied to pellet 24 above femoral artery 62.

Claims: Apparatus for applying an inwardly directed compressive force onto a femoral incision in a human body to staunch blood flow from said femoral incision comprising a shaped body (24) for applying said compressive force; a pelvic portion (34, 42) adapted to be formed, in use, into a first closed loop, to couple to said shaped body (24) at a predetermined point, and to position said shaped body (24) over said femoral incision; and a groin portion (52) coupled to, and extending from, said pelvic portion (34, 42) and adapted to be formed, in use, into a second closed loop; in which said pelvic portion (34, 42) and said groin portion (52) when formed into said respective first and second closed loops meet at an area of intersection at or in the proximity of shaped body (24). Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said pelvic portion (34, 42) comprises a flexible pelvic section (34) and a flexible hip section (42), said hip section (42) being adapted to position said pelvic portion (34) on said human body so that said shaped body (24) is positioned above said femoral incision. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said hip section (42) is connected to said pelvic section (34) in a downward direction from the hip bone towards the groin when applied to said human body. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said groin portion (52) is temporarily and adjustably coupled at a free end of said groin portion (52) to a junction of said pelvic portion (34, 42) and groin portion (52). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said pelvic portion (34, 42) is temporarily and adjustably coupled at a free end of said pelvic portion (34, 42) to a junction of said pelvic portion (34, 42) and groin portion (52). Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pelvic section (24) of said pelvic portion (34, 42) and said groin portion (52) are of elastic material whereby resiliently maintained tension may be provided along said pelvic portion (34, 32) and groin portion (52), in use, to provide said compressive force. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said pelvic portion (34, 42) comprises a flexible pelvic apron (34) and a flexible hip section (42) having two ends, each end of said hip section (42) being coupled to said pelvic apron (34), said hip section (42) for positioning said pelvic apron (34) on said human body, said hip section (42) being oriented relative to said pelvic apron (34) so that said hip section (42) is disposed in a downward direction from the hip bone towards the groin when applied to said human body. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said pelvic apron (34) is comprised of a basal section and at least one inclined section (36), said inclined section (36) having a linear extent lying in a predetermined direction when said pelvic apron (34) is applied to said human body, said predetermined direction being approximately in line with the line of extension of said groin portion (52) over said shaped body (24), said hip section (42) extending approximately parallel to said predetermined direction and to form part of said first closed loop in combination with said pelvic apron (34), said groin portion (52) being coupled to said pelvic apron (34) and lying in a direction parallel with said predetermined direction. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and including a second shaped body coupled to said pelvic apron (34), each shaped body (24) being shaped to transmit said comprssive force onto said femoral incision.

Inventors: KURTH PAUL A, KURTH, PAUL A.
Applicants: KURTH PAUL A, KURTH, PAUL A.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17