Abstract: Devices for and methods of pressurizing or depressurizing a particular pressurizable container or housing in a substantially linear, fixed manner independent of the pressurized volume of the container are disclosed herein. These devices are especially suitable in an arrangement for taking blood pressure in which a cuff wrapped around a body part of a patient is pressurized or alternatively depressurized to detect the patient's systolic and diastolic pressures. The device acts on the cuff so that the latter is pressurized or depressurized in a substantially linear, fixed manner independent of the pressurized volume of the cuff, that is, independent of the size of the cuff.

Abstract: A specific technique for determining an individual's systolic blood pressure is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes the individual's diastolic blood pressure, the patient's arterial curve or amplitude curve, and different assumed systolic pressures for making a comparison between certain assumed curves and a reference curve in order to establish which of the assumed systolic pressures accurately reflects the individual's actual systolic pressure.