Patent ID: 8366740

Claim:
A system for controlling blood flow through a zone of a patient limb, the zone being bounded by a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a cuff configured for securing to the limb and for covering the zone, the cuff being inflatable to provide pressure to the zone for occluding the flow of blood flowing through the zone in the direction from the proximal to distal ends of the zone; an array of sensors fitting between the cuff and the limb and arranged for sensing and signaling a distance from the proximal end that the arterial blood flow penetrates into the zone; and a control instrument connected to the array and to the cuff for regulating the pressure in the cuff to occlude the blood flow in the zone depending upon the arterial blood flow penetration distance signaled by the array; and an inflatable auxiliary bladder disposed adjacent to the array and inflatable independently from the cuff for varying an angular position of the sensors of the array relative to the limb while the zone is covered with the inflatable cuff secured to the limb to provide pressure to the zone, thereby to scan various tissue volumes.