Abstract: Disclosed is an improved ballistocardiograph system, apparatus and method. Basic to the system of the present invention is a first rigid individualized mold having preferably a negative impression of the dorsal half of the body. The body mold rigidizes the body thereby facilitating the preparation of a ballistocardiogram. Additional rigidizing is provided by a second rigid mold, connected to the first mold, having preferably an exact negative impression of the ventral half of the body. The system can also include means for substantially eliminating artifacts created by movements of the body mold not caused by the subject.

Abstract: A relatively simple and compact apparatus is described for producing and/or monitoring a plurality of reference pressures wherein all the pressures must be precise and, especially, precisely related to each other. The apparatus includes a plurality of manometers, each including a reservoir and an elongated vertical tube connected together at their lower ends and partially filled with a manometer liquid such as mercury. As an example, a first (lower) reference pressure such as 150 torr (150 mm Hg) is connected to the reservoir of a first manometer while a second reference pressure such as 300 torr is connected to the reservoir of a second manometer of the same construction. The liquid in the vertical tubes will be at the same level only when the second reference pressure is precisely twice as great as the first.

Abstract: A method is described for generating sounds (which are of a musical nature) that are related to the state of a person's brain, which is useful in anesthesiology and other applications. A brain wave signal, which may be derived from an electroencephalograph, is converted in real time from an analog to a digital signal, and stored in a memory. An epoch delineator detects points along the signal which can define segments of the signal. The signals in the memory are read out in segments, with the segment signals repeatedly read out N number of times and at a rate N times faster than the input rate to the memory, to generate a train of signals that are high frequency replicas of the segment. Thus, the multiple replicas of the segment are all read out during the same time period required to originally store the segment, and after each segment is read out the next segment to be stored is repeatedly read out.

Abstract: A pneumatic regulator including a constant-volume reference chamber and associated pressure-sensitive inflation and deflation valves is provided to effect a precise linear depressurization of a variable-volume inflatable enclosure, such as a cuff which has been applied to a patient during a blood pressure measurement thereof and pressurized to a value higher than the patient's systolic pressure. By coupling such regulator to the drive for one axis of an X-Y recording chart, the pen or marker of the chart can be precisely scanned along the associated chart axis at the constant depressurization rate of the cuff.

Abstract: Pressure transducer apparatus primarily for medical use in determining the hemodynamic pressure associated with circulation of the blood. The pressure transducing wall is in contact with a highly compliant diaphragm wall of a fluid container adapted for connection to a patient's blood system. In order to prevent distortion in the blood pressure wave as it is transmitted through the container diaphragm wall to the transducing wall, means are provided for venting air trapped between the diaphragm and the transducing wall.

Abstract: A method of detecting and recording a succession of time-spaced blood flow surges utilizing a pneumatic regulator including a constant-volume reference chamber and associated pressure-sensitive inflation and deflation valves is provided to effect a precise linear depressurization of an inflatable cuff which has been applied to a patient and pressurized to a value higher than the patient's systolic pressure. Pulses obtained from an ultrasonic or other suitable detector sensitive to movements of the patient's arterial wall in synchronism with the blood flow surges as the cuff is depressurized below the patient's systolic pressure are integrated and then translated into variable-duration marking impulses. Such impulses are successively applied to the actuating input of a pen or other marker associated with an X-Y recording chart, the pen being linearly scanned along one chart axis at the constant depressurization rate of the cuff.

Abstract: An alarm actuating circuit associated with an automatic blood pressure recorder is triggered when a patient's systolic or diastolic pressure does not fall within a prescribed range. The recorder is associated with a pneumatic regulator including a constant-volume reference chamber and associated pressure-sensitive inflation and deflation valves to effect a precise linear depressurization of an inflatable cuff which has been applied to the patient and pressurized to a value higher than the patient's systolic pressure. Pulses obtained from an ultrasonic or other suitable detector sensitive to movements of the patient's arterial wall in synchronism with the blood flow surges as the cuff is depressurized below the patient's systolic pressure are integrated and then translated into variable-duration marking impulses.

Abstract: A pneumatic regulator including a constant-volume reference chamber and associated pressure-sensitive inflation and deflation valves is provided to effect a precise linear depressurization of an inflatable cuff which has been applied to a patient and pressurized to a value higher than the patient's systolic pressure. Pulses obtained from an ultrasonic or other suitable detector sensitive to movements of the patient's arterial wall in synchronism with the blood flow surges as the cuff is depressurized below the patient's systolic pressure are integrated and then translated into variable-duration marking impulses. Such impulses are successively applied to the actuating input of a pen or other marker associated with an X-Y recording chart, the pen being linearly scanned along one chart axis at the constant depressurization rate of the cuff.