Improving Orthopedic Outcomes with Precision Proportional Control

When precision, speed, and control all matter at once, system success depends on selecting the right components. Surgical tourniquet systems are a prime example—tasked with delivering rapid, responsive pressure control to create a clear, bloodless field during orthopedic procedures. For design engineers, it’s a deceptively complex challenge with high stakes. Here’s a closer look at what it takes to do it right.

In orthopedic surgery, maintaining a clear surgical field is essential. Excessive bleeding during limb procedures can obscure the surgeon’s view and compromise precision. To prevent this, surgeons often rely on surgical tourniquet systems—devices that inflate a cuff around the limb to temporarily restrict blood flow.

But these systems must do far more than simply apply pressure. They need to inflate the cuff rapidly at the start of surgery, maintain precise pressure throughout the procedure, and deflate smoothly at the end. The pressure must be high enough to occlude circulation, but not so high that it risks nerve damage or post-operative complications. And because every patient is different, the system must adjust dynamically to real-time conditions.

So how do you engineer a pneumatic system that’s fast, quiet, precise, and responsive under surgical constraints? That’s where Clippard’s DVP Series proportional valve comes in.
 

Video filmed at Clippard in Cincinnati, Ohio

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Engineering Challenge: Pressure Control in the OR

In surgical tourniquet systems, pressure must ramp quickly to occlude blood flow, then hold a precise setpoint—often for extended durations. It must also deflate on demand, without lag or overshoot. Traditional valves often struggle to deliver that balance of speed, stability, and smooth control—especially in quiet, high-stakes environments like operating rooms.

Clippard’s DVP Series was engineered specifically for these kinds of conditions.

The DVP is a proportional solenoid valve that uses a current input to deliver smooth, controllable flow output across a wide operating range. At its core is Clippard’s renowned Spider Technology, a brilliantly simple design with just one moving part. That compact internal motion enables response times under 15 milliseconds and exceptionally low hysteresis (typically <10%), resulting in consistent performance even during rapid inflation or deflation cycles. And with flow rates up to 65 liters per minute, it can handle high-demand applications without hesitation.

In the OR, quiet operation matters just as much as speed. The DVP’s low-vibration, low-noise profile makes it ideally suited for surgical settings, where distractions can’t be tolerated. And with its compact form factor and power consumption of just 1.9 watts, it integrates cleanly into embedded systems or portable, battery-operated devices.

When incorporated into a surgical tourniquet system, the DVP Series allows pressure to ramp up quickly, hold precisely, and adjust instantly based on sensor feedback. It replaces blunt pressure delivery with fine-tuned responsiveness—reducing patient trauma and enabling faster, safer recoveries.

Designing for Real-World Performance

For engineers designing medical devices, performance specs are just the starting point. It’s the real-time behavior of components like the DVP that determines how a system actually performs when lives are on the line. The DVP isn’t just a valve—it’s a key enabler of smarter, safer pneumatic control in surgical environments and beyond.

Are you designing a system that demands precise pressure or flow control? Whether you're building surgical equipment, lab devices, or compact automation systems, Clippard’s proportional control solutions give you the precision and reliability your application demands. Contact Clippard or your local Clippard distributor today to discuss your specific needs.

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DVP Series Proportional Valve

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