An inflatable secondary tourniquet used in conjunction with a nonpneumatic primary tourniquet enhances the presentation of veins for drawing blood or intravenous (IV) administration.

The EZ Vein inflatable secondary tourniquet is made with soft fabric and flexible plastic materials, which together form an inflatable bladder. Integral Velcro attachment strips secure the EZ Vein around an appendage in the same way as would a blood pressure cuff. The device is primarily designed to fit around an upper limb, but an extension is included to allow the device to be placed on lower limbs or with large arms. A vein access window allows the health care professional to position the EZ Vein over the target vein for access for IV drip, blood drawing, or injections.

The EZ Vein cuff is applied after initial placement of a conventional, noninflatable, tourniquet (such as latex tubing). The initial tourniquet blocks the return of venous blood through the major veins to the heart, and the subsequent application of the EZ Vein cuff helps move the blood in deep tissues into the veins, distending for easier visualization and access. The EZ Vein cuff is not intended for use without a primary nonpneumatic tourniquet, and has been tested to demonstrate that the Velcro strip self-releases between 195 mmHg and 220 mmHg, to ensure that the device cannot be over-inflated. The EZ Vein inflatable secondary tourniquet is a product of Dominion Medical Devices (Guthrie, OK, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“It works even if you don't have a pulse,” said the device’s inventor, Robert Perry, MD, a resident at the OU Medical Center (Oklahoma City, OK, USA). “Traditional tourniquets aren't effective if the patient has no pulse.”

Conventional pneumatic tourniquets are more typically used during surgery to reduce or stop bleeding, but require much higher compression pressures.

Guangzhou Jia Yu medical equipment Limited