Alphapointe Receives Patent and Military Approval on Pneumatic Tourniquet, Getting Greenlight on Second Life-Saving Device in a Week
Designed to Fit Around Most Human Limbs and in the Maximum Range of Field Kits and Settings, Newly Approved Model Will Vastly Expand Applicability and Production Demand, Allowing Agency to Create More Jobs for those who are Blind or Visually Impaired
May 10, 2019, Kansas City, MO ~ For the second time in a week, Alphapointe has received notice that a life-saving device it developed has earned patent approval and received the green light for military use from the Department of Defense’s Committee for Tactical Combat Casually Care (CoTCCC). After learning on May 6 that it had secured final approval of its Tactical Medical Tourniquet (TMT), a field device developed in collaboration with the U.S. Army, Alphapointe was notified on May 8 that its Tactical Pneumatic Tourniquet (TPT) has secured similar approvals and will be listed as a “recommended limb tourniquet” for use by the military.
The CoTCCC is the branch of the Department of Defense’s Joint Trauma System that focuses on the standard of care for prehospital battlefield medicine. Both of Alphapointe’s tourniquet models earned approval following extensive testing and evaluation by the Department of Defense as well as independent studies, practical labs, training exercises and real-life use. In all cases, they never failed and in the majority of cases they were the preferred tourniquet when compared with other devices.
The TPT is comprised of an elongated bladder designed to wrap around most human limbs, a reservoir chassis, a retaining cover, a receiver and a slider. It achieves hemorrhage control at lower pressures and can be kept in place for a longer period of time with less likelihood of neurovascular damage or compromise. While other pneumatic tourniquets are bulky and heavy without ruggedization, the TPT has a sleek but sturdy composition, enabling it to withstand harsh environments without weighing down a field kit. It is available in both 2- and 3-inch models, adding further flexibility to fit into a wider range of medical kits. Both the TPT and TMT were created to save life and limb in severe situations, however they differ in their intended applications. The TPT offers a solution when access to medical attention may be unavailable for an extended period, while the TMT is more suitable when treatment is known to be nearer at hand.
The patent documentation for the TPT called out its distinctive advantage, noting that satisfies “a need for a pre-fabricated tourniquet that is easy to apply, that ensures consistent and even circumferential pressure, that is light weight, that provides standard life saving operation, and that can be used in any setting or situation.” With this full endorsement by the CoTCCCC, Alphapointe will be able to pursue additional markets for its products, such as first responder, law enforcement, first aid programs, retail and international military sales.
News of the approval immediately led Alphapointe to begin full production of the device in its manufacturing facility in the Richmond Hill section of Queens in New York, and will lead to hiring additional staff to work there and in its Kansas City headquarters.
“This is fantastic news,” said Reinhard Mabry, President and CEO of Alphapointe, remarking on the receipt of patent and CoTCCC approvals for both products. “We now have two options for providing critical care in a variety of settings. We specialize in creating employment for people who are blind and visually impaired, so many of our employees have never served in the Armed Forces, but they are eager to serve our nation by supplying the best life-saving devices on the market.”
About Alphapointe:
Alphapointe, headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has been empowering people with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations since its founding in 1911. Alphapointe, one of the largest employers of people who are blind in the U.S., with manufacturing facilities in both the State of Missouri and the State of New York, has over 400 employees, of which 230 are blind or visually impaired. Alphapointe is one of the region’s largest resources for people with vision loss, offering products and services nationwide. Alphapointe’s business lines include plastics, micro-molding, office products manufacturing and sales, textiles manufacturing and sales, janitorial products, contact center services, retail stores and a comprehensive rehabilitation and education program for people who are blind or are losing their vision. For more info about Alphapointe, visit www.alphapointe.org.
About CoTCCC:
Joint Trauma System (JTS) / Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC). The CoTCCC is the branch of the JTS focused on the standard of care for pre-hospital battlefield medicine. The JTS is the Department of Defense Center of Excellence for Trauma providing clinical practice guidelines and performance improvement for all levels of military trauma care.
