US 4,469,099 A · Pneumatic torniquet

Abstract

A pneumatic tourniquet includes an inflatable cuff, a pressurizing mechanism for pressurizing the cuff, a pressure relief mechanism for depressurizing the cuff, a pressure sensing mechanism for sensing the pressure to which the cuff is pressurized and a pressure regulator mechanism for selectably activating the pressurizing mechanism and the pressure relief means to maintain the cuff pressure near a selected pressure. Visual and audible alarm signals are triggered if the cuff pressure exceeds a cuff pressurization limit, if the cuff pressure falls below a cuff depressurization limit, or if the cuff has remained pressurized for, or in excess of a selected time period. A computer may be used to sense the cuff pressure and pressurized or depressurized the cuff as required to maintain the cuff pressure within upper and lower cuff pressure limits.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A pneumatic tourniquet, comprising:

an inflatable cuff;
pressurizing means for pressurizing said cuff;
pressure relief means for depressurizing said cuff;
pressure sensing means for producing a cuff pressure output signal representative of the pressure to which said cuff is pressurized;
selectable reference signal means for producing any one of a number of constant signals, each representative of a predetermined constant reference pressure;
pressure regulator means responsive to said cuff pressure output signal for selectably activating said pressurizing means and said pressure relief means to maintain said cuff pressure near a selected pressure over a time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure;
and
alarm means for producing a cuff over-pressurization alarm when the difference between the pressures corresponding to said cuff pressure output signal and a selected one of said constant signals exceeds a cuff over-pressurization limit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pneumatic torniquet

Life of this patent

Pneumatic torniquet

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11