Patent ID: 8083763
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of estimating the magnitude of gas leakage from a surgical tourniquet cuff during an operation time period when the cuff is applied to a patient's limb and connected to a controllable pressure source of gas and when the cuff is pressurized with the gas to be within a reference pressure range suitable for occluding blood flow through the limb, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the pressure source to be responsive to an applied electrical signal for directing gas to flow to the cuff at a flow rate corresponding to the electrical current level of the applied electrical signal; correlating the current levels of the electrical signal applied to the pressure source with the corresponding gas flow rates to the cuff and saving that correlated information; monitoring, during the operation time period, the current levels of the electrical signal applied to the pressure source; using the correlated information for calculating the gas flow rate to the cuff during the operation time period; and using the calculated gas flow rate for estimating a magnitude of gas leakage from the cuff.