APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING LEAKAGE IN A SURGICAL TOURNIQUET SYSTEM

摘要

An apparatus for estimating the magnitude of leakage of pressurized gas from a surgical tourniquet system comprising an inflatable tourniquet cuff (2) a pressure regulator ( 36) and a leak detector ( 38). The inflatable tourniquet cuff (2) has pneumatic tubing ( 10) for connecting the cuff (2) to the pressure regulator assembly ( 36) thereby establishing a gas passageway between the cuff (2) and the pressure regulator assembly ( 36). The pressure regulator assembly ( 36) is operable to direct pressurized gas to and from the cuff (2) and passageway to maintain pressure in the cuff (2) within a reference pressure level range during a time period. The leak detector ( 38) estimates the magnitude of leakage of pressurized gas from the cuff (2) or passageway by monitoring a level of a parameter of operation of the pressure regulator assembly ( 36) that is indicative of a rate of flow of pressurized gas to the cuff (2) and passageway during the time period.