Abstract:
Preferably, an intravenous assist device includes at least, a pneumatic tourniquet portion, a pneumatic barrier having a first side contactingly adjacent the pneumatic barrier, a tissue compression portion contactingly adjacent a second side of said pneumatic barrier, and a pneumatic gate in fluid communication with each the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion. The pneumatic gate promotes an inflation of the tissue compression portion only after full inflation of the pneumatic tourniquet forms a tourniquet. The pneumatic gate is formed between the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion by an aperture only.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the intravenous procedure device, but not by way of limitation, to the field of medical equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a preferred intravenous assist device includes at least a pneumatic tourniquet portion, a pneumatic barrier having a first side in contact adjacency with the pneumatic barrier, a tissue compression portion in contact adjacency with a second side of said pneumatic barrier, and a pneumatic gate in fluid communication with each the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion, wherein the pneumatic gate promotes an inflation of the tissue compression portion only after full inflation of the pneumatic tourniquet forms a tourniquet, and wherein the pneumatic gate is formed between the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion by an aperture only. Preferably, the intravenous assist device exemplary embodiment further includes a cover portion and a backing portion, the cover portion and the backing portion are joined one to the other by the pneumatic barrier, a seal enclosing the tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion and further joining the cover portion to the backing portion, in which the backing portion, the cover portion, the first side of the pneumatic barrier, and the seal form the tourniquet portion, and the backing portion, the cover portion, the second side of the pneumatic barrier, and the seal form the tissue portion. 
     Additionally, the intravenous assist device exemplary embodiment further preferably includes an inflation conduit in fluid communication with the tourniquet portion, a pneumatic pump in fluid communication with the inflation conduit, and a fill line disposed between the pneumatic pump and the inflation conduit. 
     In an alternate preferred embodiment, the intravenous assist device is formed by steps that includes at least, providing a pneumatic tourniquet portion, forming a pneumatic barrier having a first side in contact adjacency with the pneumatic barrier, supplying a tissue compression portion in contact adjacency with a second side of said pneumatic barrier, and forming a pneumatic gate in fluid communication with each the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion, wherein the pneumatic gate promotes an inflation of the tissue compression portion only after full inflation of the pneumatic tourniquet forms a tourniquet, and wherein the pneumatic gate is formed between the pneumatic tourniquet portion and the tissue compression portion by an aperture only. 
     These and various other features and advantages which characterize the claimed invention will be apparent from reading the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a novel intravenous assist device. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a fill conduit of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the fill conduit of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view in elevation of the fill conduit of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway bottom plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of an alternate fill conduit of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the alternate fill conduit of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view in elevation of the alternate fill conduit of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cutaway bottom plan view of the alternate exemplary embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is an end view in cross section of a non-inflated exemplary embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section view in elevation of the exemplary embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart of a method of making an embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIGS. 1 and 6 . 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart of a method of using an embodiment of the novel intravenous assist device of  FIGS. 1 and 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a blood vessel access assistance device configured to facilitate a transfer of IV fluids into a predetermined blood vessel. Reference will now be made in detail to the presently exemplary embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Additionally, the numbering of components in the drawings is consistent throughout the application, with the same components having the same number in each of the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary intravenous assist device  100  preferably includes at least a pneumatic tourniquet portion  102  formed on a proximal end of the intravenous assist device  100 , a tissue compression portion  104  on a distal end of the device, a pneumatic barrier  106  disposed between the pneumatic tourniquet portion  102  and the tissue compression portion  104 , and a pneumatic gate  108  formed adjacent the pneumatic barrier  106  and providing selective communication of fluid between the pneumatic tourniquet portion  102  and the tissue compression portion  104 . 
     To facilitate an inflation of each the pneumatic tourniquet portion  102  and the tissue compression portion  104 ,  FIG. 1  further shows the exemplary intravenous assist device  100  preferably includes an inflation conduit  110  mounted to the pneumatic tourniquet  102  with a fill line  112  attached to the inflation conduit  110 . Preferably, the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1  additionally shows a pneumatic pump  114  is secured to the fill line  112 . As illustrated the pneumatic pump  114  is a manually operated pneumatic pump. However as those skilled in the art will recognize that a mechanically operated pneumatic pump selected from a number of known mechanically operated pneumatic pumps could be utilized for an inflation of each the pneumatic tourniquet portion  102  and the tissue compression  104  during a utilization of the exemplary intravenous assist device  100  on a patient. 
       FIG. 2  shows a plan view of a first preferred embodiment of the inflation conduit  110 ,  FIG. 3  depicts a bottom plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the inflation conduit  110 , while  FIG. 4  illustrates a view in elevation of the first preferred inflation conduit  110 . 
     The bottom plan view of the exemplary intravenous assist device  100  shown by  FIG. 5 , reveals that a backing portion  116  is secured to a cover portion  118  by a seal  120 , which surrounds pneumatic tourniquet portion  102 , the tissue compression portion  104 , the pneumatic barrier  106 , and the pneumatic gate  108  to form the intravenous assist device  100 .  FIG. 5  also shows a preferred embodiment of the intravenous assist device  100  includes a retention member  122  secured to the backing portion  116 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an alternate preferred embodiment of the intravenous assist device  124  that includes an alternate inflation conduit  126 , that the retention number  122  of  FIG. 5  is preferably sewn to the intravenous assist device  100  by stitches  125 , and that the pneumatic pump  114  further provides a control valve  128 . In a preferred embodiment, the cover portion  118  provides a securement feature  130  in the form of a loop portion of a hook and loop system, while the retention member  122  provides the hook portion of the hook and loop system such that when the intravenous assist device  100  is utilized with a patient, the hook portion of the hook and loop system interacts with the loop portion of the hook and loop system to secure the intravenous assist device  100  to the patient. 
       FIG. 7  shows a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the inflation conduit  126 ,  FIG. 8  depicts a bottom plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the inflation conduit  126 , while  FIG. 9  illustrates a view in elevation of the second preferred inflation conduit  126 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the inflation conduit  126  in secured to the cover portion  118  and adjacent a proximal end  132  of the intravenous assist device  124 , the retention portion  122  (the hook portion of the hook and system) secured to the backing portion  116  and disposed between the proximal end  132  and a distal end  134  of the intravenous assist device  124 .  FIG. 11  shows in cross section, the intravenous assist device  100  in a non-inflated state, wrapped about a limb of a patient  136  with the retention member  122  secured to the securement feature  130 .  FIG. 12  shows in cross section, the intravenous assist device  100  in an inflated state, which in an inflated state and secured to a limb of the patient  136  of  FIG. 5 , forms each a tourniquet  138  and a compression cuff  140 . In a preferred embodiment, shown by  FIG. 5 , an internal volume of the tourniquet  138  is less than internal volume of the compression cuff  140 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a flow chart of a method of making an embodiment of the inventive intravenous assist device  200  (such as  100  and  124 ) beginning and start step  202  and continuing at process step  204 . At process step  204 , a pneumatic tourniquet portion (such as  102 ) is provided, and at process step  206  a pneumatic barrier (such as  106 ) is formed. At process step  208 , a tissue compression portion (such as  104 ) is supplied, and at process step  210 , a pneumatic gate (such as  108 ) is formed. 
     At process step  212 , a cover portion (such as  118 ) is furnished and at process step  214 , a backing portion (such as  116 ) is furnished. At process step  216 , the cover portion is joined to the backing portion by way of the pneumatic barrier, and at process  218 , the tourniquet portion and a tissue compression portion are enclosed by a seal (such as  120 ), which further serves to join the cover portion to the backing portion. At process step  220 , and inflation conduit (such as  110  and  126 ) is attached to the tourniquet portion of the intravenous assist device. 
     At process step  222 , a pneumatic pump (such as  114 ) is provided, and at process step  224 , a fill line (such as  112 ) is disposed between and connected to the pneumatic pump and the inflation conduit. At process step  226 , a retention member (such as  122 ) is secured to the backing portion, and at process step  228 , a secure feature (such as  130 ) is provided by the cover portion. Preferably, the combination of the front portion, back portion, pneumatic barrier, pneumatic gate, and seal joined to form each the tourniquet portion and the adjacent tissue compression portion. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a method  300  of using an inventive intravenous assist device (such as  100 ,  124 ), commencing at start step  302  and continuing to process step  304 . At process step  304 , the intravenous assist devices provide. At process step  306 , a proximal end (such as  132 ) is aligned adjacent a joint (such as an elbow) of a patient (such as  136 ), and wrapped about the patient&#39;s limb. At process step  308 , a retention member (such as  122 ) is secured to a securement feature (such as  130 ), in preparation for an inflation of the tourniquet portion, which forms a tourniquet (such as  138 ), and an inflation of the tissue compression portion, which forms a compression cuff (such as  140 ). 
     At process step  310 , a pneumatic pump (such as  114 ) is used to commence inflation of the pneumatic tourniquet portion, and at process step  312 , with the intravenous assist device wrapped about insecure to enclose a limb of the patient, the tourniquet is formed through continued inflation of the pneumatic tourniquet portion using the pneumatic pump. With the tourniquet fully formed and continued activation of the pneumatic pump, a pneumatic gate (such as  108 ) is opened between the fully formed tourniquet and the tissue compression portion of the intravenous assist device at process step  314 . At process step  316 , through continued activation of the pneumatic pump, a fluid is pumped through the fully formed tourniquet and into the tissue compression portion of the intravenous assist device. 
     At process step  318 , with continued activation of the pneumatic pump, the compression portion is formed, which as shown by process step  320 , squeezes blood sequestered in the tissue of the patient&#39;s limb into veins adjacent a distal end (such as  134 ) of the intravenous assist device, and the process concludes at end process step  322 . 
     It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently exemplary embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed by the appended claims.