A new hemostasis device for hemodialysis patients

The major main aims of the study were to: 1. develop a device to obtain a better result compared to manual puncture site compression; 2. develop a stable device which would not slip during application; 3. help all dialysis patients, especially those patients who are unable to hold their needle puncture sites; 4. relieve the nurse to attend to other activities; and 5. to better utilize the whole length of the graft thereby preventing recirculation of non-dialysis blood and repeatedly puncturing a short length of the graft. A device was fabricated from a light weight plastic material with a C shape. This contour allowed conformity to the various shapes of the dialysis access limbs. The device included a rotatable threaded shaft, with which it was possible to achieve a controlled pressure on the fistula or graft. An internal (shaft) safety mechanism was incorporated so that undue pressure could not be applied on the vascular graft. The device was designed to be stable and comfortable. The puncture site contact surface of the device was designed to be disposable and to minimize any possibilities of cross contamination. Different sizes of clamps were made to best accommodate the various sizes of upper and lower access limbs. An initial clinical study on 25 patients conducted by the dialysis nurses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Sylacauga dialysis center, Sylacaga, Alabama demonstrated no problems with the C clamp system.