An internal compression
tourniquet catheter system and method for controlling hemorrhage from wounds, particularly penetrating wounds. Its construction includes an
inflatable member constructed of very thin, flexible, biocompatible, and nonelastic and puncture resistant material such that when deflated it lies flat and can be wrapped around the
catheter shaft, which passes within and has a lumen to inflate it, to minimize overall
diameter when deflated for
insertion into the tissue track created by the wounding agent. The
inflatable member is of large potential volume enabling full inflation with near zero
internal pressure when unconstrained externally. When positioned within a wound track and inflated, the gas or liquid injected into the
balloon lumen creates pressure because its expansion is constrained by the tissues of the wound, and that pressure is transmitted directly to the surrounding tissue of the wound track. The pressure exerted on the tissue can be precisely measured and controlled, automatically if appropriate, such that sufficient pressure is applied to
tamponade bleeding, but not damage tissue. Since the
balloon is of large potential volume, it can easily expand to fill and compress small, large, and irregular wound tracks and can successfully
tamponade wounds that smaller, elastic
balloon catheters would be unable to
tamponade. The
catheter system includes means to assist
insertion into the wound track, including a rounded or bulbous exploring tip and an internal stylet with an external orientable
handle. The distal end of the catheter-stylet
assembly can be bent slightly to allow following a curved or irregular wound track, such wound track navigation further assisted by twisting the stylet
handle to orient the bent catheter tip within the wound track.