Abstract: A reflectance pulse oximeter for detecting pulse synchronous waves is disclosed. The detector includes a sensor or sensors for detecting physical motion of the subject so that readings influenced by subject movement can be eliminated or indicated. One form of motion detector used is an accelerometer employing a spring-supported weight mounted within a cylinder. Accelerations beyond a predetermined value cause the weighted member to complete a circuit against the inside walls of the cylinder. Three accelerometers for detecting acceleration in each of three directions can be utilized. Motion can also be detected by a cubic motion detector having individual reed valves associated with each of six faces. A magnetic ball is movable in a spherical space formed within the cubic body. The magnetic ball operates to actuate only one of the reeds which is at a time. Motion detection can also be accomplished by a combination of the cubic motion detector and one or more accelerometers of the type previously described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting motion artifacts in data obtained from a blood pressure monitoring transducer and for preventing erroneous data related to such artifacts from interfering with the accuracy of the blood pressure measurement. Operation includes the steps of monitoring the amplitude of a pulse waveform from a first pulse to a next successive pulse and determining if the output signal changes by more than a predetermined percentage, thus indicating a motion condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a physiological age of a subject, including a sampling device for sampling a waveform of pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a subject, a storing device for storing a plurality of reference waveform models corresponding to a plurality of physiological age groups, respectively, and a determining device for selecting one of the plurality of reference waveform models which is most similar to the sampled waveform of the subject, and determining a physiological age of the subject based on the age group corresponding to the selected reference waveform model.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously measuring blood pressure of a subject based on magnitude variation of heartbeat-synchronous pulses produced from the subject, the apparatus including a detecting device for continuously detecting the pulses, the detecting device including an inflatable cuff to be set around a body portion of the subject, magnitude of the pulses being varied as pressure in the inflatable cuff is varied, the varying magnitude of the pulses being detected by the detecting device, a selecting device for selecting a pulse from the pulses detected at a preceding blood pressure measuring cycle, the selected pulse corresponding to maximum blood pressure determined at the preceding measuring cycle, a first determining device for determining a reference value based on at least a magnitude of the selected pulse, a second determining device for comparing, with the reference value, the varying magnitude of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses detected at a current blood pressure measuring cycle, and determining a

Abstract: A system for positioning a tonometric sensor array over an artery on a patient's wrist such that minimal hold down pressure is required to flatten said artery. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a sensor case which can be attached to a patient's wrist in a manner similar to a conventional wristwatch. A transducer piston is received in the case and is movable therein. A protrusion in the lower face of the transducer piston defines a sensor mounting platform. A sensor comprising an array of pressure sensing elements is attached to the mounting platform such that the operative face of the sensor is offset from the lower surface of the piston by a predetermined distance. The sensor platform has a shape which allows part of it to fit between the radius bone and the flexor tendon in the patient's wrist. The required hold down pressure is provided by a pressurizable bellows.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting pressure pulse wave, including a main body having a pressing surface which is pressed against the body surface of a subject, and a plurality of through holes formed therethrough and opening in the pressing surface; a plate member secured to the pressing surface of the main body such that the plate member covers the openings of the through holes, the pressing plate having flexibility and including a plurality of displaceable portions each of which is aligned with the opening of a corresponding through hole; a plurality of optical fibers, one of opposite ends of each optical fiber being fitted in a corresponding through hole of the main body, such that an end face of the one end is opposed to a corresponding displaceable portion of the plate member at a predetermined distance therefrom; and a plurality of signal generating devices each of which is connected to the other of the opposite ends of a corresponding optical fiber, each signal generating device detecting the pressure pulse wa

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently coupling a transceiver to an AC power line transmission system. The preferred embodiment of the coupling system comprises a line coupling network and first and second filter ports. The first filter port is connected to a resonant circuit having bandpass filtering characteristics adapted to the specific needs of the transmitter portion of the transceiver. The second filter port is isolated from the low impedance of the AC power line and is connected to a high quality factor filter having bandpath filtering characteristics adapted to the specific needs of the receiver portion of the transceiver.

Abstract: A pressurization system for a continuous blood pressure monitor transducer. The system comprises dual chamber compression apparatus and a switching mechanism, both of which are engaged with a servo motor drive mechanism. The drive mechanism simultaneously controls the compression apparatus and the switching mechanism, thereby coordinating flow of air from the compression chambers to the pressurizable chamber within the transducer. A detachable connector permits simultaneous interruption of air flow and the control signals to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A pulse wave detecting apparatus having a housing which is placed on a body surface of a subject such that the housing is aligned with an artery of the subject via the body surface, a pulse wave sensor accommodated in the housing, the pulse wave sensor being pressed against the body surface for detecting pulse wave produced from the artery, and a pressing device supported by the housing, the pressing means pressing the pulse wave sensor against the body surface with an optimum pressing force, the optimum pressing force being determined based on pulse wave signal produced by the pulse wave sensor while the pressing force of the pressing means is varied, the apparatus including a detecting device for detecting whether or not the housing has been placed on the body surface of the subject.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus having a housing detachably set on a body surface of a subject, a pressure sensor accommodated in the housing such that the pressure sensor is opposed to the body surface when the housing is set on the body surface, the pressure sensor being pressed against the body surface so as to detect pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of the subject, the pressure sensor generating pulse wave signal representing the detected pulse wave, a pressing device for pressing the pressure sensor against the body surface, and a control device for determining blood pressure in the arterial vessel based on the pulse wave signal supplied from the pressure sensor, the pressing means and the control means being accommodated in the housing.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitoring apparatus for repetitively measuring blood pressure of a subject, including a measuring device for measuring a blood pressure of the subject at each of repetitive measuring cycles, and a display device for displaying a time-wise varying trend of the repetitively measured blood pressures in a two-dimensional table defined by a first axis indicative of time and a second axis indicative of blood pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure of a subject based on Korotkoff sounds which are produced synchronously with heartbeat of the subject by pressing a body portion of the subject.

Abstract: A analytic bone implant includes a cylindrical housing with an inner chamber designed for collecting sample of bone tissues. The outer surface of the housing is provided with a plurality of threads for securing the implant into bone tissue. The housing is further provided with a plurality of openings to allow new bone tissue to grow into a collecting basket. The openings in the housing are alignable with complementary openings in the basket. The openings on the basket are provided with sharp edges which serve as cutting blades to facilitate the removal of the bone sample. The implant includes provision for repeated access to the medullary compartment for obtaining sample of cancellous tissue for histologic and morphometric analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring blood pressure of a subject, the method including the steps of continuously detecting pulse wave which is produced from an artery synchronously with heartbeat of the subject; the pulse wave consisting of a plurality of pulses, repetitively measuring blood pressure of the subject, each of the repetitive blood pressure measurements being effected by inflating a cuff set on a body portion and deflating the cuff; repetitively determining a relationship between blood pressure and magnitude of pulse wave, based on each of the repetitively measured blood pressures and magnitude of at least one pulse of the pulse wave which pulse is detected during a predetermined time length including a first time length immediately before beginning of the inflation of the inflatable cuff for a corresponding one of the repetitive blood pressure measurements, and a second time length following the first time length; replacing each of the repetitively determined relationships, with another relatio

Abstract: A pulse wave detecting apparatus having a pressure-sensitive semiconductor element for detecting pulsation of an artery of a subject and converting the detected pulsation into electrical signal, the electrical signal representing pulse wave corresponding to the pulsation, the semiconductor element being pressed against a body surface of the subject such that the semiconductor element is aligned with the artery via the body surface, the apparatus including a timer device for measuring operation time of the pressure-sensitive semiconductor element, and generating a full-use signal when the measured operation time exceeds a reference value representing that the semiconductor element has been fully operated up to its permitted operation time.

Abstract: A method for detecting motion artifacts in data obtained from a blood pressure monitoring transducer is provided which prevents erroneous data related to such artifacts from interfering with the accuracy of the blood pressure measurement by way of continuously monitoring the pressure control source which maintains the transducer hold down pressure, and temporarily delaying data acquisition in the event the hold down pressure changes in excess of a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring blood pressure of a subject based on heartbeat-synchronous pulses, the apparatus having a device including a cuff and detecting a magnitude of each of the pulses produced from the subject as pressure in the cuff is varied, a device for collecting not less than a first number of the detected pulses, and plotting a corresponding number of points in a table defined by a first axis indicative of the cuff pressure and a second axis indicative of the pulse magnitude, such that each of the plotted points represents a cuff pressure at a time of detection of a corresponding one of the collected pulses and a pulse magnitude of the corresponding one pulse, a device for selecting a second number of consecutive points from the plotted points and determining a regression line of the selected points, a device for determining, based on the regression line, at least one expected pulse magnitude regarding at least one point adjacent to the selected points, a device for determining a tem

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining blood pressure of a subject based on heartbeat-synchronous pulses, the method including the steps of detecting the heartbeat-synchronous pulses as pressure in an inflatable cuff set on a body portion of a subject is varied, preparing a plural sets of point data each of which represents a pressure of the cuff at the time of detection of a corresponding one of the pulses and a magnitude of the corresponding one pulse, plotting, based on the prepared plural sets of point data, a plurality of points in a two-dimensional table defined by a first axis indicative of the pressure of the cuff and a second axis indicative of the magnitude of the pulses, selecting a predetermined number of consecutive points from the plotted points such that the predetermined number is not less than three, determining a regression line of the selected consecutive points, such that each of the at least one point is plotted with a statistically high probability inside a corresponding one of the at

Abstract: A pulse wave detecting apparatus having a pulse wave sensor for detecting pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a subject, the pulse wave sensor being movable along a cross line crossing the arterial vessel so as to be positioned in place relative to the arterial vessel, and pressed against a body surface of the subject so as to detect the pulse wave produced from the arterial vessel, a frame member for being set on the body surface of the subject, a guide device supported by the frame member, for guiding the pulse wave sensor within a predetermined length along the cross line, a feeding screw supported by the frame member such that the feeding screw is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the cross line, the feeding screw being threadedly engaged with the pulse wave sensor, a drive motor supported by the frame member such that the drive motor is located adjacent to the body surface when the frame member is set on the body surface of the subject, and a transmission device provided

Abstract: The communications system of the present invention defines a complete feedback path consisting of first and second transceivers and an appropriate signal path. Each transceiver comprises a detector and a signal source capable of generating a signal at one of two frequencies. The detector in each of the transceivers is a two state device tuned to respond only to a predetermined desired difference frequency. If the desired difference frequency signal is present, the detector provides and output signal in a first state; if the desired difference signal is not present, the detector provides an output signal which is in a second state. The signal source can be a voltage controlled oscillator, a pair of single frequency oscillators, a synthesizer, or any signal source capable of being electrically switched between two frequencies. Data can be exchanged between the transceiver pair only when the desired difference frequency is present.