Integrated tourniquet system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated tourniquet system, comprising:
- an inflatable tourniquet cuff releasably connectable through a connector and tubing to a tourniquet pressure regulator, thereby establishing a gas passageway between the inflatable tourniquet cuff and the tourniquet pressure regulator;
pressure sensing means for producing an indication of a level of pressure in the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway;
user interface means for permitting a user to separately input a request to inflate the cuff and a request for initiation of a leakage test;
wherein the tourniquet pressure regulator operates to regulate the level of pressure in the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway near a reference pressure level over a surgical time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure;
test means responsive to the request for initiation of the leakage test for disabling the operation of the tourniquet pressure regulator for a test period sufficient to perform a test to estimate a magnitude of leakage from the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway, and for enabling the operation of the tourniquet pressure regulator at the end of the test period, and for inhibiting the performance of the leakage test if the indication of the level of pressure is substantially different from zero at the time of the user request.
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Abstract
An integrated tourniquet system enables the user to establish with suitable warnings, and with timely user confirmation, individualized maximum pressure levels in the cuff that may be above normal maximum pressure levels. Also provided is a rapid and accurate method of testing for leakage in the cuff and connectors. The system is adapted for communication to remote devices for receiving and providing information relating to the pressure levels, tests, etc.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An integrated tourniquet system, comprising:
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an inflatable tourniquet cuff releasably connectable through a connector and tubing to a tourniquet pressure regulator, thereby establishing a gas passageway between the inflatable tourniquet cuff and the tourniquet pressure regulator; pressure sensing means for producing an indication of a level of pressure in the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway; user interface means for permitting a user to separately input a request to inflate the cuff and a request for initiation of a leakage test; wherein the tourniquet pressure regulator operates to regulate the level of pressure in the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway near a reference pressure level over a surgical time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure; test means responsive to the request for initiation of the leakage test for disabling the operation of the tourniquet pressure regulator for a test period sufficient to perform a test to estimate a magnitude of leakage from the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway, and for enabling the operation of the tourniquet pressure regulator at the end of the test period, and for inhibiting the performance of the leakage test if the indication of the level of pressure is substantially different from zero at the time of the user request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An integrated tourniquet system, comprising:
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an inflatable tourniquet cuff releasably connectable through a connector and tubing to a tourniquet pressure regulator, thereby establishing a gas passageway between the inflatable tourniquet cuff and the tourniquet pressure regulator; the tourniquet pressure regulator being operable for regulating the level of sensed pressure in the inflatable tourniquet cuff near a reference pressure level over a surgical time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure; user interface means for permitting a user to separately input a request to inflate the cuff and a request for initiation of a leakage test; test means responsive to initiation of the leakage test and operable to disable the tourniquet pressure regulator for a test period during which the cuff is tested for leakage and for enabling the operation of the tourniquet pressure regulator at the end of the test period, and further operable for estimating a magnitude of leakage of gas from the inflatable tourniquet cuff and gas passageway. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of testing leakage from a tourniquet cuff and gas passageway connecting the tourniquet cuff to a pressure regulator, comprising the steps of:
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estimating a level of pressure in a tourniquet cuff and connected gas passageway; enabling a user to separately generate requests for inflating the tourniquet cuff and for a leakage test determining the estimated level of pressure at the time the user generates a request for the leakage test; inhibiting performance of the leakage test in instances where the estimated level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff is substantially different from zero; performing the leakage test if the estimated level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff is near zero by disabling regulation of pressure in the tourniquet cuff for a leakage test period and, pressurizing the tourniquet cuff and gas passageway during the leakage test period to a first test level of pressure at a first time, measuring a second test level of pressure at a second time occurring after the first time and estimating leakage as a function of the magnitude of the difference between the first test level and the second test level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for testing for leakage from a tourniquet cuff and gas passageway connecting the tourniquet cuff to a pressure regulator, comprising the steps of:
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estimating a level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff and connected gas passageway; if the estimated level of pressure is substantially different from zero, preventing user initiation of a leakage test; if the estimated level of pressure is near zero, enabling initiation of the leakage test by disabling regulation of pressure in the tourniquet cuff; if the leakage test is initiated, pressurizing the tourniquet cuff and gas passageway to a first level of pressure near a first time, measuring a second level of pressure at a second time after the first time wherein during the period between the first time and the second time and the pressurizing is halted and during which a pressure regulator normally operable for maintaining a level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff and connected gas passageway near a reference pressure level is disabled, and determining a magnitude of difference between the first and second levels of pressure and producing an indication of leakage as a predetermined function of the magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification