Apparatus and method for monitoring the patency of tubing in a pneumatic medical device
First Claim
1. Pneumatic medical apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable appliance for positioning onto the surface of a limb and adapted to apply pressure to the limb beneath the appliance when inflated with gas;
tubing for establishing a pneumatic conduit between the inflatable appliance and a pressure control means; and
pressure control means for supplying the tubing with gas at a controlled pressure, wherein the pressure control means includespulse generating means for generating a pneumatic pulse at a sensing location in the tubing by producing a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location during a finite time interval, andtubing patency monitoring means adapted to sense the variation of pneumatic pressure at the sensing location and produce a tubing obstruction signal when the variation of pneumatic pressure sensed after the finite time interval exceeds a reference level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring the patency of tubing in a pneumatic medical device including: an inflatable appliance for positioning onto the surface of a limb and adapted to apply pressure to the limb beneath the appliance when inflated with gas; tubing for establishing a pneumatic conduit between the inflatable appliance and a pressure control system. The pressure control system for supplies the tubing with gas at a controlled pressure. The pressure control system includes a pulse generating system for generating a pneumatic pulse at a sensing location in the tubing by producing a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location during a finite time interval. A tubing patency monitoring system is adapted to sense the variation of pneumatic pressure at the sensing location and produce a tubing obstruction signal when the variation of pneumatic pressure sensed after the finite time interval exceeds a reference level.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Pneumatic medical apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable appliance for positioning onto the surface of a limb and adapted to apply pressure to the limb beneath the appliance when inflated with gas; tubing for establishing a pneumatic conduit between the inflatable appliance and a pressure control means; and pressure control means for supplying the tubing with gas at a controlled pressure, wherein the pressure control means includes pulse generating means for generating a pneumatic pulse at a sensing location in the tubing by producing a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location during a finite time interval, and tubing patency monitoring means adapted to sense the variation of pneumatic pressure at the sensing location and produce a tubing obstruction signal when the variation of pneumatic pressure sensed after the finite time interval exceeds a reference level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tourniquet system for facilitating the performance of a surgical procedure at a location on a limb, comprising:
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an inflatable cuff for encircling a limb and adapted to apply pressure to the limb beneath the cuff when the cuff is inflated with gas; tubing for establishing a pneumatic conduit between the inflatable cuff and a pressure control means; and pressure control means for supplying the tubing with gas at a controlled pressure so that the cuff applies a pressure greater than the minimum required to stop arterial bloodflow into the limb past the cuff, wherein the pressure control means includes pulse generating means for generating a pneumatic pulse at a sensing location in the tubing by producing a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location during a finite time interval, and tubing patency monitoring means adapted to sense the variation of pneumatic pressure at the sensing location and produce a tubing obstruction signal when the variation of pneumatic pressure sensed after the finite time interval exceeds a reference level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring the patency of tubing in a pneumatic medical device, comprising the steps of:
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attaching onto the surface of a limb an inflatable appliance which applies pressure to the underlying limb when inflated with gas; establishing a pneumatic conduit between the inflatable appliance and a source of gas having a controllable pressure; controlling the pressure of the gas supplied to the tubing; generating a pneumatic pulse at a sensing location in the tubing by producing a variation in the pressure of the gas at the sensing location during a finite time interval; and sensing the variation of pneumatic pressure at the sensing location and producing a tubing obstruction signal when the variation of pneumatic pressure sensed after the finite time interval exceeds a reference level. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification