Abstract: A cuff having a casing and an inflatable diaphragm is slipped over a portion of the body of the user, preferably a thumb or finger. The diaphragm is connected by a conduit to a pressure source and to a manometer. A preferred pressure source is as a cylinder similar to that of a syringe. A plunger in the syringe inflates the diaphragm. The pressure in the cuff is slowly increased until the subject first notices a slight localized throbbing sensation within the artery inside the cuff, the pressure corresponding to diastolic blood pressure, and this pressure is read. Use of a transducer or even a stethoscope is unnecessary. Further, it has been found that if the cuff is properly designed, pressure corresponds very closely to diastolic blood pressure measured at the brachial artery with a standard arm cuff using a stethoscope. For other cuff structures the pressure in the cuff may be calibrated to that in an arm by using these subjective sensations.

Abstract: It has been found that most subjects can sense the onset and cessation of the conditions in a blood vessel which give rise to the Korotkoff sounds used in blood pressure determination without use of a stethescope or any transducer and thus adequately read their own blood pressure using the blood pressure device. An inelastic cuff encircles a thumb or other portion of the subject's body and contains a diaphragm which is inflatable. A syringe-like member is connected to the diaphragm. Indicia on the barrel in accordance with the Perfect Gas Law indicate pressure at the onset and cessation of localized arterial sensations corresponding to Korotkoff sounds to afford readings of diastolic and systolic pressures. Zeroing of the indicia is provided to accommodate different sizes of thumbs, etc.