Tourniquet apparatus for intravenous regional anesthesia

摘要

Tourniquet apparatus for use in intravenous regional anesthesia and limb surgery includes a pressurizing cuff (2) for substantially encircling a limb (6) and applying a varying pressure to an underlying vein in response to variations in a pressure control signal, applied venous pressure sensing means (26) for producing an applied venous pressure signal representative of a pressure applied by the cuff (2) to the underlying vein, venous fluid pressure estimation means (38) for producing a venous fluid pressure signal representative of the pressure of fluid in the vein distal to the cuff (2), and pressure control means (10,14) responsive to the venous fluid pressure signal and applied venous pressure signal for generating a pressure control signal to maintain a predetermined relationship between the applied venous pressure signal and the venous fluid pressure signal. The apparatus automatically controls the introduction, retention and release of anesthetic fluid in the limb (6).