Abstract: The operation of a patient's cardiovascular system is analyzed by positioning an inflatable cuff over an extremity of the patient so that a blood vessel in the extremity experiences the cuff pressure and then modifying the pressure in the cuff through a cycle in which the vessel is occluded. A first electrical signal is generated as a function of the pressure in the cuff during the cycle and a second electrical signal is independently generated as a function of the rate of change of pressure in the cuff through use of a transducer which receives a fluid signal proportional to the pressure in the cuff and moves a core with respect to a wire coil to generate the rate of change signal. The two signals are plotted relative to one another and the resulting plot includes information relating to cardiovascular disfunctions such as arhythmia, ischemia and hypertrophy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making blood pressure measurements is disclosed particularly adapted to automated measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. The method includes detecting the rate of change of pressure values existing in an inflatable occluding cuff encircling an extremity of the subject, in whom the blood pressure measurements are to be taken, as the pressure in the occluding cuff is varied from a pressure sufficiently high to completely occlude blood flow to the extremity, to a pressure value in which blood flow takes place in the extremity substantially unaffected by the encircling inflatable cuff. The rate of change of pressure is disclosed as precipitously increasing at a cuff pressure value corresponding to a systolic blood pressure and precipitously declining at a cuff pressure corresponding to diastolic pressure, with the onset of a precipitous increase and decrease detected in order to ascertain the systolic and diastolic pressure values respectively.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for automatically applying to a body member a flexible inflatable cuff of the type used in taking blood pressure measurements. The arrangement includes a rotatable drum supported between a pair of end plates which have openings formed therein allowing the body member of the subject to pass through the interior of the rotatable drum. A cuff is positioned within the drum in an extended or unwound position, with one end thereof restrained against movement with the drum by virtue of a pair of ties secured to the respective end plates and also to one end of the cuff while the other end of the cuff is adapted to be carried with the drum during rotation thereof by virtue of a flexible element connected to the other end of the cuff and passing through the drum wall and about the periphery thereof with a garter spring connected both to the flexible element and to the drum outer surface.