Method and apparatus for limiting blood flow to a distal portion of an extremity

Claim 1

A pneumatic tourniquet for substantially encircling an extremity and distributing pressure developed by a fluid contained by said tourniquet to the extremity to control blood flow to a distal portion of the extremity, comprising: (a) a cuff suitable for encircling the extremity; (b) a transparent cylinder for containing the fluid having an internal volume and having means for calibration of tourniquet pressure on said cylinder; (c) means for placing the cylinder in fluid communication with the cuff; (d) a plunger suitable for slidable sealing contact with the cylinder for reducing its internal volume; (e) a spring housing suitable for operatively connecting to the cylinder; and (f) a compression spring suitable for bearing on the spring housing and the plunger, wherein when the apparatus is supplied with the fluid, and when the spring housing is operatively connected to the cylinder in a single manual compressive stroke, the compression spring applies a force on the plunger which pressurizes the fluid within the cylinder which in turn urges the cuff towards the extremity to apply the pressure thereto less than or equal to 450 mmHg said spring maintaining pressure of the fluid in the cuff and wherein establishment of pressure in the range of 200 to 300 mmHg can readily be confirmed by visual inspection of the position of the plunger within the cylinder by its alignment with said calibration means on said cylinder, whereby blood flow to the distal portion of the extremity is controlled.