Importance

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Abstract

An inflatable tourniquet cuff includes an inflatable bladder having an outer layer with a predetermined thickness and an inner layer with a thickness that is less than the predetermined thickness of the outer layer. An opening in the bladder allows for the inflation and deflation of the bladder. A fastener system attached to the bladder releasably secures the bladder about a patient's limb so that the thin inner layer is positioned adjacent the patient's skin. The thin layer is relatively flexible in comparison to the thick outer layer and thus expands to a greater degree than the outer layer upon inflation of the bladder. A preferred method of manufacturing the cuff includes extruding two plastic ribbons of different thicknesses, forming openings at predetermined intervals along the thicker ribbon, pressing the ribbons together and sealing them along their side edges, cutting the combined ribbons into predetermined lengths, sealing the combined ribbons at their ends to form an inflatable bladder, hermetically sealing a hollow flange to the thicker ribbon in alignment with the opening, and attaching a fastener system to the bladder so that the bladder may be releasably secured about a patient's limb. Alternatively, the cuff may be extruded from a single plastic ribbon having both a thick wall and an opposing thin wall.

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First Claim