×

Method for Measuring Tourniquet Limb Occlusion Pressure

  • US 20130226013A1
  • Filed: 03/20/2013
  • Published: 08/29/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of determining for a patient an occlusion pressure of a limb to which an inflatable and deflatable cuff is attached to encircle the limb;

  • comprising the steps of;

    connecting to the cuff a tourniquet instrument that includes a sensor for sensing a level of pressure in the cuff;

    regulating the pressure in the cuff by directing through a port in the cuff a flow of fluid into and out of the cuff;

    detecting an arterial pulsation of blood flow past the cuff and producing a blood flow signal indicative of the blood flow;

    responding to the detection of the arterial pulsation by suspending regulation of the pressure in the cuff for a measurement time period;

    sensing the level of pressure in the cuff during the measurement time period thereby to provide a cuff pressure signal indicative of the sensed level of pressure in the cuff during the measurement time period; and

    increasing the cuff pressure level in response to the blood flow signal and cuff pressure signal until blood flow indicated by the blood flow signal decreases to a level less than a minimum detection threshold thereby to produce a limb occlusion pressure value that is a based upon pressure in the cuff sensed during the measurement time period.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×