Abstract: A tourniquet apparatus comprises a cuff, a user interface, a controller, a protocol hazard key and a protocol safety interlock. The cuff encircles the patient's limb and applies a level of pressure. The UI presents a protocol symbol from a plurality of protocol symbols wherein each protocol symbol is indicative of a corresponding safety protocol. The controller is responsive to stored pressure levels and stored times specified by the safety protocol, after any adjustments by the user, and operable during the stored protocol time period for maintaining the level of pressure applied by the cuff to the individual patient near the plurality of stored pressure levels at the plurality of stored times. The protocol hazard key is actuatable to end the stored protocol time period while the controller is operable. The protocol safety interlock prevents selection of a second protocol symbol while the controller is operable.

Abstract: An automatic tourniquet apparatus comprises a tourniquet cuff, a pressure transducer, a user interface, a patient hazard shield and a pressure regulator. The pressure transducer produces a cuff pressure signal. The user interface produces a reference pressure signal. The patient hazard shield is responsive to the cuff pressure signal and the reference pressure signal, and operable during a regulation time period to produce a patient hazard signal if, in one implementation, a current level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff is greater than the reference level of pressure by at least a predetermined overpressure limit. The pressure regulator is responsive to the patient hazard signal, and has a pressurizing element for increasing pressure in the cuff and a depressurizing element for decreasing pressure in the cuff. The pressurizing element is configured to be non-responsive if the patient hazard signal is produced.

Abstract: An automatic tourniquet apparatus comprises a tourniquet cuff, a pressure transducer, a user interface, a patient hazard shield and a pressure regulator. The pressure transducer produces a cuff pressure signal. The user interface produces a reference pressure signal. The patient hazard shield is responsive to the cuff pressure signal and the reference pressure signal, and operable during a regulation time period to produce a patient hazard signal if, in one implementation, a current level of pressure in the tourniquet cuff is greater than the reference level of pressure by at least a predetermined overpressure limit. The pressure regulator is responsive to the patient hazard signal, and has a pressurizing element for increasing pressure in the cuff and a depressurizing element for decreasing pressure in the cuff. The pressurizing element is configured to be non-responsive if the patient hazard signal is produced.

Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

Abstract: A tourniquet apparatus comprises a cuff, a user interface, a controller, a protocol hazard key and a protocol safety interlock. The cuff encircles the patient's limb and applies a level of pressure. The UI presents a protocol symbol from a plurality of protocol symbols wherein each protocol symbol is indicative of a corresponding safety protocol. The controller is responsive to stored pressure levels and stored times specified by the safety protocol, after any adjustments by the user, and operable during the stored protocol time period for maintaining the level of pressure applied by the cuff to the individual patient near the plurality of stored pressure levels at the plurality of stored times. The protocol hazard key is actuatable to end the stored protocol time period while the controller is operable. The protocol safety interlock prevents selection of a second protocol symbol while the controller is operable.

Abstract: A personalized tourniquet cuff assembly comprises a sterile tourniquet cuff, a machine-readable instrument symbol, machine-readable personalization data and a sterile connector. The instrument symbol identifies a predetermined first type of tourniquet instrument from a plurality of types of tourniquet instruments, and is adapted for contactless reading by an optical tourniquet interface of the first type of tourniquet instrument. The personalization data represents a value of a personalization parameter for safe operation of the tourniquet cuff with the first type of tourniquet instrument and is adapted for contactless reading by the optical tourniquet interface. The connector is adapted for releasably connecting the tourniquet cuff to the first type of tourniquet instrument.

Abstract: A sleeve for use with a tourniquet cuff to protect a patient's limb from tourniquet-related injury includes a stretchable body extending longitudinally over a sleeve length between a proximal end and a distal end. The body has a tubular shape, and the sleeve length is greater than a width of the tourniquet cuff. The body tapers from the proximal end to the distal end such that a proximal end circumference is greater than a distal end circumference. The body is formed to apply substantially uniform pressure to the patient's limb from the proximal end of the sleeve to the distal end of the sleeve varying only within a predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: A tourniquet apparatus having an optical tourniquet interface for safe personalization, a safe transfer key and a pressure controller. The optical tourniquet interface communicates with the pressure controller and is operable for contactlessly reading and authenticating a machine-readable instrument symbol associated with a tourniquet cuff if it matches stored instrument authentication data and for contactlessly reading machine-readable personalization data associated with the cuff. The optical tourniquet interface presents a personalization parameter value if the machine-readable instrument symbol has been authenticated. The safe transfer key enables the user to selectively transfer the presented value of the personalization parameter to the pressure controller only if the pressure controller is inoperable. The pressure controller is releasably connectable to the tourniquet cuff and responsive to the transferred value of the personalization parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for intermittent vascular occlusion based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff having an inflatable bladder, a sensor module having a pulsation sensor communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for sensing and characterizing pressure pulsations indicative of a distal occlusion pressure (DOP) to identify a minimum pressure at which penetration of blood past the cuff is stopped, a PTP estimator responsive to the pulsation sensor for producing an estimate of a PTP, wherein the estimate of the PTP is a function of the DOP, an effector module communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for maintaining pressure in the bladder near the PTP during a first time period and for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a second level of pressure during a second time period, and a controller selectively operating the inflatable bladder in conjunction with the sensor module and the effector module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure to restrict blood flow penetration past the cuff based on a personalized restrictive pressure (PRP). The system includes mechanisms for estimating a limb occlusion pressure (LOP) by determining a minimum pressure at which arterial blood penetration past an applied tourniquet cuff is stopped and measuring a pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. Thereafter, the system establishes a PRP by determining a second pressure that restricts but does not stop arterial blood penetration past the cuff and that corresponds to a second pulsation characteristic differing by a percentage from the pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. During a limb-activity time period, the system maintains pressure in the applied tourniquet cuff near the PRP, thereby restricting but not stopping arterial blood penetration past the cuff during the activity time period.

Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of surgical and medical procedures. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient to provide both a sensor during a first time period and an effector during a second time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the second time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the first time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of a patient encircled by the cuff.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient limb to provide both a sensor during a pre-surgical time period and an effector during a surgical time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the surgical time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the pre-surgical time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of the limb encircled by the cuff.

Abstract: A tourniquet cuff includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a seal joining the first sheet and second sheet to form an inflatable bladder. A securing strap is attached to the cuff. The cuff encircles the limb so that the bladder overlaps upon itself. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder but not the entire bladder length, and to fit completely within the seal. A tubular port is connected to the bladder for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be releasably connected, and a cuff marking weld is located on an outer surface of the cuff, having a shape selected to form a symbol or indicia that is visible to a user.

Abstract: Improved tourniquet apparatus for measuring a patient's limb occlusion pressure includes an inflatable tourniquet cuff for encircling a limb at a location and to which a tourniquet instrument is releasably connectable.