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 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: 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: 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: 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 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.

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: 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: A tourniquet hazard suppressor suppresses an action initiated by a user of a surgical tourniquet system having a touchscreen user interface if implementation of that action by the system may be hazardous to a surgical patient.

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.

Abstract: A tourniquet cuff has minimal flow restrictions within its pneumatic passageway under normal operating conditions, has a substantially reduced likelihood of partial or complete obstructions or interruptions of the pneumatic passageway under foreseeable operating conditions, can indicate exposure of the cuff to external agents that are capable of affecting the integrity of the pneumatic passageway before use, and can be manufactured economically.

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 surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb.

Abstract: Tourniquet effector system estimates and indicates the pressure gradients produced on the surface of the body by an effector, thereby allowing the pressure gradients to be minimized. The system also detects and monitors blood flow beneath the effector, thereby allowing the pressure applied by the effector to be regulated near the minimum necessary to stop blood flow past the effector.

Abstract: A surgical tourniquet cuff system includes a tourniquet cuff with a cuff connector for communicating pneumatically with the cuff and for releasably connecting to a tourniquet instrument connector to establish a pneumatic passageway between the cuff connector and the tourniquet instrument connector. A tourniquet instrument supplies pressurized gas through the pneumatic passageway to the cuff. The tourniquet instrument connector includes a cuff pressure transducer for producing a cuff pressure signal indicative of the pressure of gas within the gas passageway near the connection. The cuff may include a cuff usage register for containing a cuff usage record and the tourniquet instrument connector may include a cuff usage register interface for reading the record. The tourniquet cuff may further include a cuff sheath forming a flexible conduit containing the cuff connector and sized to allow the connection of the cuff connector to the tourniquet instrument connector within the sheath.