A study of the blood flow restriction pressure of a tourniquet system to facilitate development of a system that can prevent musculoskeletal complications.

A relationship between blood flow restriction pressure and tissue oxygen saturation was noted. rSO measurement can be used to assess the restriction of blood flow during surgery. On the basis of the decrease in rSO, blood flow was effectively restricted at a pressure of 30 kPa or more. When, however, blood flow was restricted at a pressure of 40 kPa, weight loss and decreased movement were noted and CK levels increased after the behavioral experiment. Thus, complications had presumably developed due to damage to muscle tissue. These findings indicate that blood flow was effectively restricted in this experiment and they also indicate the existence of an optimal blood flow restriction pressure that does not cause musculoskeletal complications. The pressure in question was around 30 kPa. The tourniquet system that was developed here is actuated with an EHD pump that is still in the trial stages. That said, its pressure can readily be controlled and this pump could be used in a tourniquet system since it is quiet, vibration-free, and small. The pressure of this pump can be finely adjusted to prevent musculoskeletal complications.