Blood extraction assist apparatus and method

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A limb stimulator is engaged with a lower portion of a patient's limb for facilitating sustained venous blood flow therefrom toward a phlebotomy needle when the stimulator is activated. The stimulator may be an inflatable squeeze bulb adapted to engage a human hand and to be squeezed thereby when inflated. The stimulator may also, or alternatively, include a pressurizable member substantially surrounding a lower portion of the limb and adapted to apply external pressure thereto when periodically pressurized so as to periodically (e.g. in approximate synchronism with natural pulsitile blood movements in the limb) express venous blood upwardly through the limb to the needle. Inflation of the …