System and method for controlling pressure in a surgical tourniquet using a remote unit

Abstract

The present invention is a surgical tourniquet controller which receives operational parameters from a remote unit, allowing flow components associated with controlling a surgical tourniquet to be collocated with a surgical tourniquet in use, while allowing an operator of the tourniquet to operate the flow components from a remote location, such as at an anesthesiologists position, thus reducing the involvement of the surgical tourniquet operator from the surgical field.

1 . A surgical tourniquet controller comprising: 
 a flow controller, said flow controller controlling the flow of a pressure medium into and out of a surgical tourniquet; and    a remote unit having a display for displaying parameters associated with pressurization of a pressure cuff and a data entry device for receiving operator selections identifying desired operating parameters associated with pressurization of a pressure cuff;    wherein said remote unit is remote from said flow control means and said remote unit is communicably connected to said flow control means via a communications path.    
   
   
       2 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, at least a portion of said light emitting diodes arranged to display values identifying the pressure in a pressure cuff.  
   
   
       3 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a flat panel display.  
   
   
       4 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a cathode ray tube on which a graphical user interface may be displayed.  
   
   
       5 . A surgical tourniquet controller to  claim 1 , wherein said data entry device comprises a plurality of switches, wherein actuation of one or more of said switches allows an operator of the remote unit to indicate desired parameters.  
   
   
       6 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said data entry device comprises a touch sensitive interface, said touch sensitive interface extending over at least a portion of said display, and wherein said touch sensitive interface allows an operator of the remote unit to indicate desired parameters.  
   
   
       7 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 6 , wherein said touch sensitive interface is actuable by a stylus.  
   
   
       8 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 6 , wherein said touch sensitive interface is actuable by an operator's finger.  
   
   
       9 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said remote unit comprises a computer, said computer having a display device, a pointing device, and a data entry device.  
   
   
       10 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said communications path comprises a modulated electrical signal for communicating information between said remote unit and said flow controller.  
   
   
       11 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said communications path comprises a modulated light signal.  
   
   
       12 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 11 , wherein said modulated light signal comprises a fiber-optic connection.  
   
   
       13 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said communications path comprises a radio frequency communications path.  
   
   
       14 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second communications path communicably connecting said remote unit and said flow controller.  
   
   
       15 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 14 , wherein said second communications path comprises a hardwired communications path.  
   
   
       16 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 14 , wherein said second communications path comprises a computer network.  
   
   
       17 . A surgical tourniquet controller according to  claim 14 , wherein said second communications path comprises a modulated light communications path.