Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for linearly pressurizing a cuff, affixed to the limb of a patient, with gas from a liquified gas tank, monitoring Korotkoff sounds that appear and disappear during cuff pressurization to ascertain approximate systolic and diastolic blood pressures as cuff pressurization is in process, halting pressurization at a point slightly higher than the approximate systolic blood pressure and then immediately depressurizing the cuff at a regulated rate to actually measure and determine true systolic blood pressure. Following the determination of systolic blood pressure, the cuff is depressurized at a rapid rate down to a point slightly higher than the approximate diastolic blood pressure and is then depressurized again at the regulated rate again to actually measure and determine true diastolic blood pressure.