Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/947,337 filed on Jun. 29, 2007 entitled “Training Tourniquet and Method of Use,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The present application also cross references, but does not claim priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11,147,806 entitled “Tourniquet and Method of Use” filed on Jun. 6, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a novel training device, and more particularly, to a novel training tourniquet device for training personnel in the use of restricting the flow of blood. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Loss of blood is a major cause of death in emergency situations in which the injured person is alone or medical assistance is not immediately available. The use of a tourniquet to stop blood loss from an injured arm or leg is a well-known technique for preventing death in these situations. In general, for emergency use where the victim is alone, the victim must be able to apply the tourniquet to his or her own arm or leg and occlude blood flow using only one hand. If the victim is not alone, one or more additional people can either apply the tourniquet to the injured person, or at least assist with applying the tourniquet to the injured person. However, whether the injured person is alone or is with someone who can assist in applying the tourniquet, it would be advantageous for at least one of either the injured person or the additional person to understand how to apply the tourniquet. 
         [0004]    Tourniquets generally generate inward radial compression forces on a limb by being put into high levels of circumferential tension when wrapped around the limb. A tourniquet used in training could potentially cause injury to a volunteer pretend patient or one&#39;s self if the tourniquet is actually applied with some non-trivial amount of pressure. This is because modern tourniquets can generate relatively significant compressive forces to a person&#39;s appendage that cause soft tissue damage. More particularly, a real tourniquet includes a way of applying a relatively high amount of pressure around a limb to reliably and predictably stop arterial blood flow. Therefore, if one or more people are practicing or training how to use a tourniquet, and if the tourniquet is an actual functioning tourniquet, and if, as one would reasonably expect, the training includes learning how to apply and tighten the tourniquet, and then actually practicing tightening the tourniquet, then non-trivial amounts of compressive force may be unknowingly and/or inadvertently applied by a trainee. As a result, even in a training situation a modern tourniquet can then cause actual unnecessary injuries to nerves, muscles and the limb. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a tourniquet that can be repeatedly used in a training situation, while also not actually applying compressive forces that cause injury to the person pretending to be injured or trying to learn how to apply a tourniquet to one of their own appendages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments and configurations of the present invention. The present invention comprises a training tourniquet for demonstrating and/or practicing how to use a real tourniquet to restrict the flow of blood in a body part, such as a person&#39;s arm or leg. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a training tourniquet is provided, the training tourniquet comprising a first elongated member including a buckle, and a second elongated member slidably connected to the first elongated member. In addition, the training tourniquet comprises a non-functioning tensioning mechanism that is located proximate the second elongated member, wherein the application of a compressive force is not applied to the body part upon modeling the application of a tensile force to the second elongated member using the non-functioning tensioning mechanism, and wherein substantially no compressive force is applied to the body by practicing use of the non-functioning tensioning mechanism. 
         [0006]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the non-functioning tensioning mechanism may comprise an inoperative windlass, or non-functioning mechanism, such as a non-functioning ratchet. In addition, for training tourniquets utilizing an inoperative windlass as the non-functioning tensioning mechanism, the training tourniquet may also comprise a securing mechanism interconnected to the first elongated member, wherein the securing mechanism is adapted for securing the inoperative windlass after practicing the application, but not actually applying a tensile force to the second elongated member. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the securing mechanism comprises at least one hooked catch, or a securing strap, or at least one hooked catch and a securing strap. When used, the securing strap is preferably interconnected to the outer sleeve and is preferably oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve, wherein the securing strap is adapted to secure the inoperative windlass. 
         [0007]    The present invention includes a variety of possible configurations. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a training tourniquet for practicing how to restrict a flow of blood in a body part is provided, the training tourniquet comprising a non-functioning means for circumferentially surrounding the body part, a means for modeling compressing the body part, wherein the means for modeling compressing slidably engages the means for circumferentially surrounding. In addition, the tourniquet comprises a means for modeling tensioning the means for modeling compressing, wherein substantially no tensile force is actually applied to the non-functioning means for modeling compressing using the means for modeling tensioning, and wherein substantially no compressive force is applied to the body part. 
         [0008]    Various embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the attached figures and in the detailed description of the invention as provided herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood, however, that this Summary of the Invention may not contain all of the aspects and embodiments of the present invention, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the invention as disclosed herein is and will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto. 
         [0009]    Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an actual tourniquet applied to a person&#39;s right leg (as shown in dashed lines); 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , where the device is stretched out along its longitudinal axis; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , where the device is shown prior to tightening the device using the windlass; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 2  with the windlass in an unwound position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is the same cross section view of the device as shown in  FIG. 4 , but with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the windlass partially rotated; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the device with the windlass in a wound position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the windlass in an unwound position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the windlass in a wound position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a training tourniquet applied to a person&#39;s right leg (as shown in dashed lines); 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 9 , where the device is stretched out along its longitudinal axis; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 9 , where the device is shown prior to modeling tightening the device using the inoperative windlass; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 10  with the inoperative windlass modeling an unwound position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is the same cross section view of the device as shown in  FIG. 12 , but with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass in a partially rotated position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the device of  FIG. 9  with the inoperative windlass modeling a wound position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device if  FIG. 9  with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass modeling an unwound position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass modeling a wound position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a different version of a training tourniquet, wherein the training tourniquet is applied to a person&#39;s right leg (as shown in dashed lines); 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 17 , where the device is stretched out along its longitudinal axis; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of the device shown in  FIG. 17 , where the device is shown prior to modeling tightening the device using the inoperative windlass; 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 18  with the inoperative windlass modeling an unwound position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is the same cross section view of the device as shown in  FIG. 20 , but with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass in a partially rotated position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the device of  FIG. 17  with the inoperative windlass modeling a wound position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device if  FIG. 17  with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass modeling an unwound position; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 24  is a plan view of the buckle end of the device with the outer sleeve looped through the buckle and the inoperative windlass modeling a wound position. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and may, in part, include exaggerated dimensions for clarity. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The present invention comprises a training tourniquet that can be used to practice and/or train how to use a real tourniquet. The training tourniquet allows a person to practice how to use a real tourniquet, but with the benefit of not actually applying a compressive force to the appendage via the tensioning mechanism, because in the training tourniquet the tensioning mechanism is actually a non-functioning tension mechanism. 
         [0036]    To understand different embodiments of the training tourniquet, real versions of tourniquets are also illustrated and described. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an actual functioning or real tourniquet  10  is shown. The real tourniquet  10  comprises a first elongated member or an outer sleeve  14 , a second elongated member, inner tightening member or inner strap  18 , a tightening mechanism  22  and a securing mechanism  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the real tourniquet  10  can be applied to an appendage, as for example, leg L, and then tightened to restrict the flow of blood to the leg L. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the real tourniquet  10  is shown prior to use, or in a stretched-out orientation. The outer sleeve  14  comprises a longitudinally extensive material having a first end  30  and a second end  34 . The second end  34  includes a restraining mechanism comprising a buckle  38 . When the real tourniquet  10  is applied to a limb, such as leg L shown in  FIG. 1 , the first end  30  is looped through the buckle  38  and pulled tight around the appendage, thus providing a means for circumferentially surrounding or encircling the limb.  FIG. 3  depicts the real tourniquet  10  after the first end  30  has been looped through the buckle  38 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the outer sleeve  14  may be formed of two panels comprising an upper or first panel  42  and a lower or second panel  46 . The edges of the panels  42  and  46  are connected, as for example, by sewing, gluing, stapling, clamping, or heat/ultra-sound (sonic) welding, or combinations thereof. Outer sleeve  14  includes a pocket, interior area or inner space  44  between the panels  42  and  46 . The first panel  42  comprises an outer surface  50  that includes hook and loop structures, or both hook structures and loop structures along substantially the entire length of the outer sleeve  14  between the first end  30  and an opening  54  where the inner strap  18  is exposed between the first panel  42  and second panel  46  of the outer sleeve  14 . Thus, when the first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14  is looped through the buckle  38 , the outer surface  50  may be applied to itself, thereby securing the position of the outer sleeve  14 . The first panel  42  may comprise a length of OMNI-TAPE® (Velcro Industries B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands), wherein the fastening surface comprises both hook and loop structures on the outer surface  50  as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The use of a combination of both hook and loop structures on the outer surface  50  of the outer sleeve  14  provides the advantage of the tourniquet being quickly adjustable when in use to accommodate a variety of size appendages, as for example, from a person&#39;s thigh to a person&#39;s forearm. 
         [0039]    In use, to size the tourniquet to the appendage, the user simply wraps the tourniquet around the subject appendage, loops the first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14  through the buckle  38 , pulls the tourniquet reasonably tight, and then presses the outer surface  50  together detachably interlocking first and second portions of the outer surface  50  together to interlock the hook and loop structures of the outer surface  50  within the region where the outer surface  50  overlaps beyond the buckle  38 . 
         [0040]    Referring still to  FIG. 4 , the inner strap  18  is shown between the first panel  42  and the second panel  46  of the outer sleeve  14 . The inner strap  18  comprises a length of nylon binding strap (also known as nylon binding tape) that extends from first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14  to the buckle  38  and returns to the first end  30  such that the inner strap  18  comprises a loop. The ends of the inner strap  18  are anchored only at the tip  58  of the first end  30  of outer sleeve  14 , as for example, by sewing, gluing, stapling, clamping, or heat/ultra-sound (sonic) welding, or combinations thereof. Thus, the inner strap  18  can slide within the interior space  44  of the outer sleeve  14 . Accordingly, the inner strap  18  comprises a material that has frictional characteristics allowing it to slide within the interior space  44  of the outer sleeve  14  when a tensile force is applied to the inner strap  18 . 
         [0041]    The real tourniquet  10  may be configured such that a single layer (i.e., not a loop) of material is used to form the inner strap  18 . Here, a first end of the inner strap  18  is anchored at or near the tip  58  of the first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14 , and a second end of the inner strap  18  is anchored at or near the buckle  38 , with the middle portion not anchored to the outer sleeve  14 , and thereby able to slide within the outer sleeve  14 . The tensioning mechanism  22  can be used to tighten the inner strap  18 , such as by winding the windlass  74  to develop a tension force in the inner strap  18 . 
         [0042]    Referring still to  FIG. 4 , the real tourniquet  10  includes a base member  62 . A first end  66  of base member  62  includes a securing mechanism  26 , as will be discussed below. The second panel  46  of the outer sleeve  14  extends over at least a portion of the base member  62 , passes through a means for looping, such as buckle  38 , and folds back to a second end  70  of the base member  62 . The inner strap  18  emerges from the outer sleeve  14  at opening  54  where it is connected to the tightening mechanism  22 . The tightening mechanism  22  comprises a windlass  74  that is shown in an unwound position. The inner strap  18  passes through a slot or aperture  78  in the windlass  74 , and as described above, the inner strap  18  extends to and around the buckle  38 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plan view of the second end  34  of the outer sleeve  14  is shown. Here, the outer sleeve  14  has been looped through buckle  38 ; however, the tension mechanism  22 , comprising a windlass  74 , as will be described below, has not been wound to tighten the inner strap  18 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a plan view of the second end  34  of the outer sleeve is shown. Here, the outer sleeve  14  has been looped through buckle  38  and the windlass  74  has been partially wound, thereby applying a tensile force to the inner strap  18 . Since the end of the inner strap  18  is secured to the tip  58  of the outer sleeve  14 , when the windlass  74  is rotated, the inner strap  18  slides within the outer sleeve  14 , essentially scrunching the outer sleeve  14  relative to the inner strap  18  as the inner strap  18  is increasingly tightened. The tightened inner strap  18  provides a substantially even radial compressive pressure to the limb to which the real tourniquet  10  is being applied. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a cross sectional view of the real tourniquet  10  is shown, including the second end  34  of real tourniquet  10  with the windlass  74  in a partially wound position. More particularly, in use, after the first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14  is passed through the buckle  38  and secured around an appendage or limb, such as leg L shown in  FIG. 1 , the windlass  74  is rotated, such as in the direction of arrows A 1  and A 2 , to apply a tensile force to at least a portion of the inner strap  18 . Since the inner strap  18  is secured to the tip  58  of first end  30  of the outer sleeve  14 , the inner strap  18  slides in the direction of arrows A 3  and A 4  within the outer sleeve  14  as the windlass  74  is rotated, thereby pulling the inner strap and providing a circumferentially applied compression force to the appendage. After the windlass  74  is tightened, the tourniquet restricts the blood flow in the appendage. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a cross sectional view of the second end  34  of real tourniquet  10  is shown with the windlass  74  in a wound position. After the windlass  74  has been sufficiently tightened to restrict the arterial blood flow in the appendage, the windlass  74  may be secured using securing mechanism  26 . The securing mechanism  26  provides a means for securing or preventing the windlass  74  from unwinding. Thus, the securing mechanism  26  maintains the wound position of the windlass  74 , and thereby maintains the tension in the inner strap  18 . 
         [0047]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 , the securing mechanism  26  comprises a pair of opposing hooked catches  82  set substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis LA-LA of the real tourniquet  10 . More particularly, the hooked catches  82  are sized to cup or hold the windlass, or a portion thereof, and prevent it from unwinding. Two opposing catches  82  allows the user to rotate the windlass  74  in either direction, with one of the two catches  82  always able to prevent the windlass  74  from unwinding. The securing mechanism  26  may comprise a securing strap positioned transversely to a longitudinal axis LA-LA of the outer sleeve  14 . As for example, a transversely oriented strap having hook and loop fastening portions, or an elastic band engaging a hook or button may be provided to secure the windlass  74  in its wound position. 
         [0048]    A transversely oriented strap  86  may be used in combination with the hooked catches  82 . Such a combination of structures allows the user to secure the windlass  74  and move about (or be moved by another person) with less concern of the windlass  74  dislodging from the hooked catches  82  and unwinding. The outer surface of the hooked catches may comprise a hook or loop material, and a surface of the strap  86  may comprise a complementary hook or loop material to interlock with the material on the hooked catches  82 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-16 , and in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a training tourniquet  900  is shown that includes a number of structures of real tourniquet  10 ; however, training tourniquet  900  features a non-functioning tension mechanism  904 . The non-functioning tension mechanism  904  includes a base portion  908  that is interconnected to another portion of the training tourniquet  900 , such as the base member  62  or the inner strap  18 . For the embodiment of the training tourniquet  900  shown in  FIGS. 9-16 , the base portion  908  includes apertures  912  and inner strap  18  passes through apertures  912 . Alternatively, the base portion  908  may be stapled, glued, welded, or otherwise affixed to the inner strap  18 . An inoperative windlass  916  is interconnected to the base portion  908 , such as by a stem  920 . As used herein, the term “inoperative windlass” means a windlass that does not tighten a strap of the training tourniquet  900 . The inoperable windlass may be rotatable or not. Even in embodiments in which it is rotatable, however, it does not tighten a strap of the trainer tourniquet. Thus, for the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-16 , the inoperative windlass  916  can rotate to simulate tightening of the inner strap  18 , however, the rotational action of the inoperative windlass  916  does not actually tighten the inner strap  18 . More particularly, the stem  920  either rotates and/or allows rotation of the inoperative windlass  916  such that the inoperative windlass  916  essentially spins without winding the inner strap  18 . In one embodiment, and as shown in  FIGS. 9-16 , the stem  920  includes a shaft  924  that extends into a bore  928  within the inoperative windlass  916 , and when the inoperative windlass  916  is rotated, the stem  920  is substantially stationary and the inoperative windlass  916  spins around the shaft  924 . Thus, the base portion  908  allows the inoperative windlass  916  to rotate and not transfer any tension to the training tourniquet  900 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  15 , and  16 , the bore  928  may reside within a slot or aperture  78  of the windlass  916 , where the slot or aperture is present to reflect where the inner strap  18  may reside, at least for some versions of a working tourniquet, such as real tourniquet  10 . 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 17-24 , a separate embodiment of a training tourniquet is illustrated that is a modification of the training tourniquet  900 . Similar to training tourniquet  900 , training tourniquet  900 ′ includes a non-functioning tensioning mechanism  904 ′. The non-functioning tensioning mechanism  904 ′ includes an inoperative windlass  916 ′ that is fixedly attached to stem  920 ′ such that the inoperative windlass  916 ′ and the stem  920 ′ rotate together. More particularly, base portion  908 ′ includes structure for allowing the stem  920 ′ and the inoperative windlass  916 ′ to rotate together. In one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of stem  920 ′ extends into base portion  908 ′, where the base portion  908 ′ includes a flange  2000  for rotatably holding the flared bottom  2004  of stem  920 ′. The stem  920 ′ is thus rotatable within the bottom portion  908 ′. 
         [0051]    In summary, training tourniquets  900  and  900 ′ illustrate different ways of allowing the inoperative windlass  916  and  916 ′ to rotate to allow a trainee to model how to apply a tensile force to the inner strap  18 , while not actually applying a tensile force to the inner strap  18 , thereby avoiding the application of a compressive force to an appendage as a result of practicing the operation of the non-functioning tensioning mechanism  904  and  904 ′. 
         [0052]    In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), a trainer tourniquet comprises an inoperative windlass that is operatively associated with a deformable elastomeric member (not shown) or similar material that allows the rotation of the inoperative windlass without applying a tension to the inner strap. More particularly, the deformable elastomeric member may comprise a plastic or synthetic material, such as a relatively soft plastic, that extends between the windlass and the base portion of the windlass so that the trainee can rotate the inoperative windlass without applying a tension to the inner strap. 
         [0053]    In still another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the inner strap is provided with an excessive length of material such that it can be wound, but wherein it is too long to allow the strap to be tensioned by rotating the windlass. Here, the inner strap may pass through the windlass, but because of its length, the windlass is unable to gather the inner strap to provide a tensile force that causes compression of an appendage when used to practice use of the trainer tourniquet. 
         [0054]    In still another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the inner strap comprises a stretchable material that is deformable and can be wound by the windlass, but that develops an ineffective amount of tension so that the trainer tourniquet does not effectively apply a significant compressive force sufficient to occlude blood flow to an appendage during a practice use of the trainer tourniquet. 
         [0055]    In still yet another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the stem of the non-functioning tensioning mechanism comprises a safety clutch or slip device. For this embodiment, the strap may also pass through the windlass to more closely model the actual working tourniquet, however, once a relatively small amount of tension is developed in the inner strap, the safety clutch then effectively prevents additional tension from being applied to the inner strap. That is, the safety clutch can be set to limit the amount of tension that can be applied to the inner strap, such that the windlass can rotate and can also apply a tensile force to the inner strap, but wherein the tensile force is limited such that tissue damage cannot occur when practicing or training with the subject training tourniquet. 
         [0056]    The above-described alternatives are encompassed by the scope of the present invention. 
         [0057]    In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the training tourniquet may include a safety mechanism, such as a breakaway strap component. In one embodiment of the invention, the inner strap includes a weakened portion such that if a modest tensile force is applied to the inner strap, such as by reconfiguring the non-functioning tensioning mechanism, then the strap breaks so that no damaging compressive forces can be applied to an appendage. 
         [0058]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, training tourniquets described herein may comprise visual indicator that the device is a training tourniquet and not an actual tourniquet for applying a compressive force to an appendage. In at least one embodiment of the invention, one or more components of the training tourniquet are the color blue. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the training tourniquet comprises indicia such as “TRAINING DEVICE,” “TRAINING TOURIQUET,” “INOPERATIVE,” “FOR TRAINING ONLY,” “WARNING: NON-OPERATIVE,” “DO NOT WIND STRAPS,” and the like, including combinations of the foregoing, and further optionally including one or more components of the training tourniquet that are blue in color. 
         [0059]    Non-windlass-types of tourniquets are used, and one such device uses a ratchet as the tensioning mechanism. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a training tourniquet comprises an inoperative ratchet (not shown) that can be manipulated by will not apply a tensile force to the inner strap. 
         [0060]    Embodiments of the one or more present inventions are also directed to methods of using a training tourniquet. In at least one embodiment, a method for training a person how to restrict a flow of blood to a body part is provided, the method comprising: 
         [0061]    (a) wrapping a first elongated member around the body part and looping a first portion of the first elongated member through a buckle connected to the first elongated member; 
         [0062]    (b) detachably attaching the first portion of the elongated member to a second portion of the elongated member; 
         [0063]    (c) operating a non-functioning tensioning mechanism connected to a second elongated member slidably positioned relative to the first elongated member, wherein the non-functioning tensioning mechanism models and does not develop a tensile force in the second elongated member, 
         [0064]    wherein substantially no compressive force is applied to the body part restricting the flow of blood in the body part by operating the non-functioning tensioning mechanism. The method may further comprise securing the tensioning mechanism using at least one of a hooked catch and a securing strap. 
         [0065]    Embodiments of the one or more present inventions also allow a person, such as a soldier, to practice using a tourniquet without actually applying restrictive force to one of their appendages. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, a method of practicing how to restrict a flow of blood to a body part is provided, the method comprising: 
         [0066]    (a) placing a first elongated member for contacting the body part around the body part, and positioning at least a portion of the first elongated member through a restraining mechanism connected to the first elongated member; and 
         [0067]    (b) operating a non-functioning tensioning mechanism for modeling the application of a tensile force to a second elongated member, the second elongated member not contacting the body part, the second elongated member adapted for slidably engaging the first elongated member, wherein the non-functioning tensioning mechanism does not induce a tensile force in any portion of the second elongated member, wherein substantially no compressive force is applied to the body part restricting the flow of blood in the body part when operating the non-functioning tensioning mechanism. The method may further comprise securing the non-functioning tensioning mechanism using at least one of a hooked catch and a securing strap. 
         [0068]    The present invention has application for use in training emergency medical personnel. In addition, the invention also has application for use in veterinary medicine to practice the application of a tourniquet to a body part or limb of an animal. 
         [0069]    The present invention, in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation. 
         [0070]    The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0071]    Moreover though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

Technology Category: 3