Biomedical pressure transducer
First Claim
1. Apparatus for estimating a pressure applied to a limb by a tourniquet cuff which encircles the limb, comprising:
- a first flexible layer carrying a first electrical contact;
a second flexible layer carrying a second electrical contact and cooperating with the first flexible layer to define a flexible pressurizable chamber wherein the first and second electrical contacts are touching when the chamber is not pressurized;
locating means for attaching the chamber to a tourniquet cuff in a position that interposes the chamber between the cuff and limb encircled by the cuff and locates the contacts near a predetermined cuff location; and
pressure estimation means for selectably pressurizing the chamber, and for indicating the lowest selected pressure at which the contacts are separated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biomedical transducer which is useful for interposing between a tissue and apparatus or another tissue or organ which is applying pressure to the tissue, in order to estimate the pressure applied to a selected area of the tissue. The biomedical pressure transducer comprises: a first flexible layer carrying at least one electrical contact; a second flexible layer carrying at least one electrical contact and cooperating with the first flexible layer to define a pressurizable chamber wherein the contacts are normally touching when the chamber is not pressurized; and pressure estimation means for selectably pressurizing the pressurizing chamber so as to move at least one of said flexible layers sufficiently to separate the electrical contacts, and for indicating the lowest selected pressure at which the contacts are separated.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for estimating a pressure applied to a limb by a tourniquet cuff which encircles the limb, comprising:
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a first flexible layer carrying a first electrical contact; a second flexible layer carrying a second electrical contact and cooperating with the first flexible layer to define a flexible pressurizable chamber wherein the first and second electrical contacts are touching when the chamber is not pressurized; locating means for attaching the chamber to a tourniquet cuff in a position that interposes the chamber between the cuff and limb encircled by the cuff and locates the contacts near a predetermined cuff location; and pressure estimation means for selectably pressurizing the chamber, and for indicating the lowest selected pressure at which the contacts are separated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for estimating a plurality of pressures applied to a limb by a tourniquet cuff which encircles the limb, comprising:
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a first flexible layer carrying a plurality of first electrical contacts; a second flexible layer carrying a plurality of second electrical contacts and cooperating with the first flexible layer to define a flexible pressurizable chamber wherein pairs of first and second electrical contacts are touching when the chamber is not pressurized; locating means for attaching the chamber to a tourniquet cuff in a position that interposes the chamber between the cuff and a limb encircled by the cuff and locates the contacts near predetermined cuff locations; and pressure estimation means for selectably increasing the pressure in the chamber and for indicating the lowest selected pressure at which each pair of contacts is separated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification