System and method for controlling pressure in a surgical tourniquet using a remote unit

• US 20070255310A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Schmitt, Don, Hovanes, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/656,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations

Abstract

The present invention is a surgical tourniquet controller which receives operational parameters from a remote unit, allowing flow components associated with controlling a surgical tourniquet to be collocated with a surgical tourniquet in use, while allowing an operator of the tourniquet to operate the flow components from a remote location, such as at an anesthesiologists position, thus reducing the involvement of the surgical tourniquet operator from the surgical field.

Claims

1. A surgical tourniquet controller comprising:

a flow controller, said flow controller controlling the flow of a pressure medium into and out of a surgical tourniquet; and

a remote unit having a display for displaying parameters associated with pressurization of a pressure cuff and a data entry device for receiving operator selections identifying desired operating parameters associated with pressurization of a pressure cuff;

wherein said remote unit is remote from said flow control means and said remote unit is communicably connected to said flow control means via a communications path.

2. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, at least a portion of said light emitting diodes arranged to display values identifying the pressure in a pressure cuff.

3. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises a flat panel display.

4. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises a cathode ray tube on which a graphical user interface may be displayed.

5. A surgical tourniquet controller to claim 1, wherein said data entry device comprises a plurality of switches, wherein actuation of one or more of said switches allows an operator of the remote unit to indicate desired parameters.

6. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said data entry device comprises a touch sensitive interface, said touch sensitive interface extending over at least a portion of said display, and wherein said touch sensitive interface allows an operator of the remote unit to indicate desired parameters.

7. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 6, wherein said touch sensitive interface is actuable by a stylus.

8. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 6, wherein said touch sensitive interface is actuable by an operator'"'"'s finger.

9. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said remote unit comprises a computer, said computer having a display device, a pointing device, and a data entry device.

10. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said communications path comprises a modulated electrical signal for communicating information between said remote unit and said flow controller.

11. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said communications path comprises a modulated light signal.

12. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 11, wherein said modulated light signal comprises a fiber-optic connection.

13. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, wherein said communications path comprises a radio frequency communications path.

14. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 1, further comprising a second communications path communicably connecting said remote unit and said flow controller.

15. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 14, wherein said second communications path comprises a hardwired communications path.

16. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 14, wherein said second communications path comprises a computer network.

17. A surgical tourniquet controller according to claim 14, wherein said second communications path comprises a modulated light communications path.