Abstract: An apparatus for estimating an intraarterial blood pressure of a living subject, based on information of the subject, including: a first device for obtaining first information which relates to velocity of propagation of a pulse wave; a second device for obtaining at least one of second information which relates to heart rate and third information which relates to an area defined by a volume pulse wave; a third device for estimating, according to a predetermined relationship between (A) blood pressure, and (B1) first information and (B2) at least one of (B21) second information and (B22) third information, the blood pressure of the subject, based on the first information and the at least one of the second and the third information, the relationship being defined by a numerical expression including a plurality of coefficients; a fourth device for determining an activity of an autonomic nerve system, based on at least one of fourth information which relates to fluctuations of the blood pressure and fifth informa

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a blood pressure of a living subject, including: a first judging device for judging whether a physical parameter which is obtained from the subject and which changes in relation with the blood pressure of the subject falls within a first reference range; an alarm device which outputs an alarm when the first judging device makes a first negative judgment that the physical parameter does not fall within the first reference range; a second judging device for judging whether the physical parameter falls within a second reference range which is contained in the first reference range; and a blood-pressure measuring device which includes a pressing band adapted to press a portion of the subject, and which automatically measures, using the pressing band, a blood pressure of the subject when the second judging device makes a second negative judgment that the physical parameter does not fall within the second reference range.

Abstract: A blood pressure (BP) monitor apparatus including a BP measuring device which measures a BP value of a living subject by changing a pressing pressure of a cuff, an estimated blood pressure (EBP) determining device which determines an EBP value of the subject, based on each of successive sets of pulse-wave propagation information (PWPI) of the subject, according to a blood pressure-pulse wave propagation information (BP-PWPI) relationship, a preparing device which prepares a plurality of candidates for the BP-PWPI relationship, a calculating device which calculates a plurality of EBP values, based on each of successive sets of PWPI of the subject, according to the plurality of candidates, and thereby providing a plurality of groups of calculated EBP values which correspond to the plurality of candidates, respectively, a starting device which controls the BP measuring device to measure a BP value of the subject, when at least one of respective changes of the plurality of groups of EBP values exceeds a first ref

Abstract: A system that accurately evaluates a living subject's circulatory system, even if the living subject is taking high blood pressure medication includes a time-difference determining device that determines a time difference between predetermined periodic points on a subject's electrocardiographic waveform and predetermined periodic points on corresponding oscillatory pressure-pulse waves of the living subject. A strain application device applies a physical strain to the subject's body for a predetermined period of time so that the subject' blood pressure changes. A blood-pressure measurement device measures the subject's blood pressure while the subject's blood pressure is changing. A circulatory-system evaluation device determines a relationship between changes in the subject's blood pressure and corresponding time differences determined by the time-difference determining. The circulatory-system evaluation device evaluates the subject's circulatory system based on the hysteresis present in the relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects both the blood pressure and the electrocardiographic waveform of a living subject and that can be quickly and easily fitted to the living subject includes a cuff that is wrapped around a portion of the living subject for detecting the subject's blood pressure, and a flexible electrocardio electrode on the inner surface of the cuff for detecting the electrocardiographic waveform generated by the living subject's cardiac muscle. When the cuff is wrapped around a portion of the living subject, the electrocardiographic electrode is automatically fitted and correctly positioned on the living subject. Because the electrocardio electrode does not have to be separately fitted and attached to the living subject, the "set up" time is significantly reduced. Thus, the apparatus of this invention is especially useful in emergency medical situations, where rapid measurements are required.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the degree of elasticity of a subject's arteries includes an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around a portion of the living subject. A cuff pressure regulating circuit changes the constriction pressure applied by the inflatable cuff to the subject. A time-difference determining circuit determines a time difference between predetermined periodic points on an electrocardiographic waveform of the living subject and predetermined periodic points on corresponding pressure pulse waves of the living subject. An arterial elasticity evaluation circuit determines the degree of elasticity of the subject's arteries based on the relationship between changes in the time difference determined by the time-difference determining circuit and changes in the constriction pressure applied by the inflatable cuff.

Abstract: A system and method evaluates the autonomic nervous system of a living subject based on the high frequency components present in the fluctuations of the living subject's pulse cycle and on the low frequency components present in the fluctuations of the living subject's blood pressure. The autonomic nervous system evaluation system includes an electrocardiographic waveform determiner that detects an electrocardiographic waveform of the living subject. A pulse cycle determining circuit determines a pulse cycle of the living subject based on the electrocardiographic waveform. A blood pressure estimating circuit estimates the living subject's blood pressure based on time differences between predetermined periodic points on the electrocardiographic waveform and predetermined periodic points on corresponding pulse waves.

Abstract: A system for reliably and accurately measuring the electrocardiographic waveform generated by a subject's cardiac muscle includes electrocardio electrodes that have multiple openings on their surfaces, a body contact determination circuit for determining if a subject is in physical contact with the electrocardio electrodes, a blow control circuit for causing air to flow out of the multiple openings of the electrocardio electrode when the subject is not in physical contact with the electrocardio electrodes and a suction control circuit for causing air to be sucked through the multiple openings of the electrocardio electrodes when the subject is in physical contact with the electrocardio electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, a pulse wave propagation velocity determining circuit is used to determine the propagation velocity of a subject's pulse wave.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus including a blood pressure measuring device which includes a cuff and measures a blood pressure value of the subject by changing a pressing pressure of the cuff, a volume pulse wave detecting device which detects a volume pulse wave of the subject, a normalized pulse-wave area calculating device for successively calculating an area which is defined by a waveform of each of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the volume pulse wave and is normalized based on a period and an amplitude of the each pulse of the volume pulse wave, a pulse wave area-blood pressure relationship determining device for determining a relationship between pulse-wave area and blood pressure, based on a normalized pulse-wave area value and a blood pressure value, when the blood pressure value is measured; and a monitor blood pressure determining device for successively determining a monitor blood-pressure value of the subject, based on each of normalized pulse-wave area values, according to the pulse wave are

Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus including a blood pressure measuring device which includes a cuff and measures a blood pressure value of a living subject by changing a pressing pressure of the cuff applied to a body portion of the subject, an estimated blood pressure determining device for successively determining an estimated blood pressure value of the subject, based on each of successive sets of actual pulse-wave propagation information, according to a predetermined relationship between blood pressure and pulse-wave propagation information, a pulse period measuring device which successively measures a period of a pulse of the subject, a peripheral pulse wave detecting device which detects a peripheral pulse wave from a peripheral body portion of the subject, a pulse-wave area calculating device for successively calculating an area defined by a waveform of a pulse of the peripheral pulse wave detected by the peripheral pulse wave detecting device, and a blood pressure measurement starting device for star

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement of a blood pressure measuring device is terminated by a blood pressure measurement terminating device, when a difference .vertline.D.sub.M -D.sub.CP .vertline./D.sub.CP between a phase difference D.sub.M obtained according to a phase difference-blood pressure relationship based on a monitor blood pressure value MBP determined by a monitor blood pressure determining device, and an actual phase difference D.sub.CP obtained by a phase difference calculating device, when the blood pressure measurement of the blood pressure measuring device starts, is smaller than a reference value .alpha.. Thus, so long as the pressure pulse wave-blood pressure relationship is effectively applicable, no blood pressure measurement is carried out for updating the current pressure pulse wave-blood pressure relationship, so that the frequency of blood pressure measurements using a cuff is decreased and the discomfort of a living subject is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a propagation velocity of a pulse wave which is propagated through an artery of a living subject, includes an electrocardiographic-waveform detecting device which detects an electrocardiographic waveform from the subject, a pulse-wave sensor which is adapted to be worn on the subject and which detects the pulse wave from the subject, a time-difference determining device for determining a time difference between a first periodic point relating to the detected electrocardiographic waveform and a second periodic point relating to the detected pulse wave, and a propagation-velocity determining device for determining the propagation velocity of the pulse wave based on the determined time difference.