Method and apparatus for determining limb occlusion

An apparatus for making a calculated determination of when a limb inclusion pressure (LOP) has been obtain in a cuff that is positioned about a user's limb as said cuff is continuously inflated, said apparatus comprising:

• said cuff that includes an inflatable bladder;
• said cuff is configured to encircle the user's limb;
• said cuff includes a pressure sensor port and an input port;
• said pressure sensor port and said input port are spaced from one another;
• both said pressure sensor port and said input port are in fluid communication with said inflatable bladder;
• a delivery unit;
• said delivery unit is configured to provide fluid into said inflatable bladder;
• said delivery unit is configured to be fluidly connected or interconnected to said inflatable bladder via said input port to provide fluid flow to said inflatable bladder to inflate said inflatable bladder;
• a pressure/pulse sensor arrangement;
• said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement includes a pressure/pulse sensor;
• said pressure/pulse sensor is configured to measure and/or to detect a pressure and/or a pressure pulse in said inflatable bladder during continuous uninterrupted inflation of said inflatable bladder;
• said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement is fluidly connected or interconnected to said inflatable bladder via said pressure sensor port;
• and
• a processing arrangement that is configured to make said calculated determination as to when said limb occlusion pressure has been obtained in said inflatable bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb;
• and
• wherein said pressure sensor port and said input port are configured such that a fill air resistance (FAR) of said fluid from said delivery unit to said inflatable bladder is different from a pressure sensor air resistance (PSAR) of said fluid between said inflatable bladder and said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement during inflation of said inflatable bladder.

A system for making a calculated determination of when a limb inclusion pressure (LOP) has been obtain in a cuff that is positioned about a user's limb as said cuff is continuously inflated;

• said system comprises:
• a cuff that includes an inflatable bladder;
• said cuff is configured to encircle the user's limb;
• said cuff includes a pressure sensor port and an input port;
• said pressure sensor port and said input port are spaced from one another;
• both said pressure sensor port and said input port are in fluid communication with said inflatable bladder;
• a delivery unit;
• said delivery unit is configured to provide fluid into said inflatable bladder;
• said delivery unit is configured to be fluidly connected or interconnected to said inflatable bladder via said input port to provide fluid flow to said inflatable bladder to inflate said inflatable bladder;
• a pressure/pulse sensor arrangement;
• said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement includes a pressure/pulse sensor;
• said pressure/pulse sensor is configured to measure and/or detect a pressure and/or a pressure pulse in said inflatable bladder during continuous uninterrupted inflation of said inflatable bladder;
• said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement is fluidly connected or interconnected to said inflatable bladder via said pressure sensor port;
• and
• a processing arrangement that is configured to make said calculated determination as to when said limb occlusion pressure has been obtained in said inflatable bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb;
• wherein said pressure sensor port and said input port are configured such that a fill air resistance (FAR) of said fluid from said delivery unit to said inflatable bladder is different from a pressure sensor air resistance (PSAR) of said fluid between said inflatable bladder and said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement during inflation of said inflatable bladder. (New) The system as defined in claim 43, wherein said pressure sensor port is spaced from said input port is such that when said cuff encircles the user's limb, a portion of the user's limb is positioned between said pressure sensor port and said input port.

An apparatus for making a calculated determination of when a limb inclusion pressure (LOP) has been obtain in a cuff that is positioned about a user's limb as said cuff is continuously inflated;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a cuff that includes an inflatable bladder;
• said cuff is configured to encircle the user's limb;
• the user's limb is selected from the arm or leg of the user;
• said cuff includes a pressure sensor port and an input port;
• said pressure sensor port and said input port are spaced from one another;
• both said pressure sensor port and said input port are in fluid communication with said inflatable bladder;
• a delivery unit;
• said delivery unit is configured to provide fluid into said inflatable bladder;
• said delivery unit is configured to be fluidly is connected or interconnected to said inflatable bladder via said input port to provide fluid flow to said inflatable bladder to inflate said inflatable bladder;
• a pressure/pulse sensor arrangement;
• said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement includes a pressure/pulse sensor;
• said pressure/pulse sensor is configured to generate pressure data by measuring and/or detecting a pressure and/or a pressure pulse in said inflatable bladder during inflation of said inflatable bladder;
• a processing arrangement;
• said processing arrangement is configured to modify said pressure data to calculate when a limb occlusion pressure has been obtained in said inflatable bladder;
• a housing;
• said housing is configured to be connected to an outer surface of said cuff;
• said housing at least partially includes a) said delivery unit and b) one or both of said pressure/pulse sensor arrangement and said processing arrangement;
• said housing overlies at least a portion of said pressure sensor port and/or said input port when said housing is connected on an outer surface of said cuff;
• and
• wherein said processing arrangement is configured to perform two or more functions during inflation of said cuff, and wherein said two or more functions are selected from the group consisting of a) calculate a value representative of pressure spikes or pulses caused by a heartbeat as blood flows through a blood vessel and past said inflated bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, b) calculate a trend intensity of said pressure spikes or pulses caused by the heartbeat as blood flows through the blood vessel and past said inflated bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, c) calculate information about an area of a curve of said pressure spikes or pulses caused by the heartbeat as blood flows through the blood vessel and past said inflatable bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, d) calculate maximum pulsation amplitude of pressure spikes or pulses caused by the heartbeat as blood flows through the blood vessel and past said inflatable bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, e) calculate when a pulsation amplitude of pressure spikes or pulses caused by the heartbeat as blood flows through the blood vessel and past said inflatable bladder have reduced a predefined amount as compared to said maximum pulsation amplitude of pressure spikes or pulses while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, f) calculate a frequency of said detected pressure spikes or pulses while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, g) calculate a maximum pulsation amplitude of said pressure spikes or pulses while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, h) calculated a width of said pressure spikes or pulses while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb, and i) differentiate between pressure spikes or pulses caused by said delivery unit and said pressure spikes or pulses caused by said blood flow through the blood vessel and past said inflatable bladder while said cuff is positioned about the user's limb.