The earliest known use of tourniquet (French word meaning “to turn”) dates back to 199 BCE – 500 CE when it was employed by the Romans to control bleeding during amputation. Early tourniquets were simple and effective but lacked standard guidelines which lead to skin and nerve trauma. Applying the proper amount of tourniquet pressure to a limb is crucial in preventing blood loss without inflicting damage on the tissue or nerves. In a typical scenario, a practitioner is required to over tighten the tourniquet to prevent a patient from excessive blood loss. Depending on the limb and size, medical professionals utilize a formula to calculate the required tourniquet pressure to prevent blood loss while minimizing damage to tissues and nerves. ​

​Technology advancement has enabled intelligent operation of tourniquets that integrates a pressure controller into pneumatic pressure cuffs. The pressure controller can deliver the exact amount of cuff pressure deemed necessary by the practitioner to prevent bleeding and tissue and nerve damage. Pressure sensors play a vital role in the feedback of the pressure controller. These sensors are similar to ones used in blood pressure monitors available in the marketplace.​