Development of a minimal İnflation pressure pneumatic tourniquet for extremity surgeries

Pneumatic tourniquets are widely used in extremity surgery in order to provide a bloodless field. In order to decrease pressure related injuries, use of the lowest possible tourniquet inflation pressure is recommended. In this study, we developed a minimal inflation pressure pneumatic tourniquet. This device includes continuous (approximately at every 15 heart beat) systolic blood pressure monitoring (Vasotrac), an inflatable tourniquet cuff, a pressure regulator mechanism responsive to the blood pressure for activating the pressurizing mechanism and the pressure relief mechanism to maintain a pressure difference between the cuff pressure and the patient's systolic blood pressure. This device has different properties compared with conventional pneumatic tourniquets. Systolic blood pressure monitoring is noninvasive and continuous. This pressure difference is adjusted according to the relationship between the tourniquet inflation pressure and the pressure in the underlying soft tissues in anesthetized adult patients. Thus, pressure regulating mechanism will respond to the patient's systolic blood pressures rapidly and tourniquet cuff pressure will be minimal throughout the surgical period.