Abstract: A method and apparatus for the non-invasive monitoring of the arterial blood pressure of a subject are described in which a plurality of discretely-spaced single-polarity pressure pulses, each having a duration which is a fraction of the duration of the subject's blood pressure pulse, are applied to a local, discrete, external point of the subject overlying an artery to effect either a blocking or unblocking condition of the artery. When the condition is detected, the instant value of the applied pressure pulse is measured to thereby provide a measurement of the subject's blood pressure.

Abstract: An electronic medical thermometer employs disposable thermocouple probe strips to produce substantially instantaneous readings. The disposability of the entire probe strips eliminates the danger of patient-patient or patient-practitioner cross-infection. The probe strips can be formed as individual strips or as a roll. Each strip has a substrate, thermocouples on the substrate, and a cover layer. The tip of the probe strip is uncovered so that the thermocouple junction is exposed. A feed device advances the next probe strip into place for a temperature measurement. Circuiting for this includes a cold junction compensation circuit, followed by an A/D converter, and a digital display.