BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT CUFF THAT INCLUDES AN ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCE

A blood pressure measurement cuff comprising an inflatable bladder, a source of fluidic pressure in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder, a manometer in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder, a cover at least partially covering the inflatable bladder and comprising an antimicrobial substance, and means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being. The source of fluidic pressure can be a pump that transforms human force into fluid pressure, such as a squeezable ball pump, or a canister of compressed fluid. The manometer can include a dial display or a digital display. The cuff can further comprise a tube providing fluidic communication between the manometer and the inflatable bladder, and the tube can be 1 foot or longer. The cover can be made of a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/220,641 filed on Jun. 26, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a blood pressure measurement cuff that includes a cover with an antimicrobial substance and a method of using the same to measure the blood pressure of the living being.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein are several embodiments of a blood pressure measurement cuff that includes an antimicrobial substance, such as silver. Additionally described herein is a method of measuring the blood pressure of a living being using the several embodiments of the blood pressure measurement cuff.

More specifically, described herein is a blood pressure measurement cuff comprising an inflatable bladder, a source of fluidic pressure in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder, a manometer in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder, a cover at least partially covering the inflatable bladder, the cover comprising an antimicrobial substance, and means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being. The cover can comprise a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance. The antimicrobial substance can be capable of emitting ions, such as silver ions, that aid in the destruction of a microbe, such as 3 trimethoxysilylpropyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, hyaluronan and its derivatives, and triclosan.

The source of fluidic pressure can be a pump that transforms human force into fluid pressure, such as a squeezable ball pump, or a canister of compressed fluid. The source of fluidic pressure can be an electric pump. The manometer can comprise a dial display or a digital display. The fluidic communication between the manometer and the inflatable bladder can be a tube having a length of greater than 1 foot. The source of fluidic pressure and the manometer can be housed under the same housing and, in such cases, can incorporate a wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit the recorded blood pressure data to an electronic medical records (EMR) database. The surface of the source of fluidic pressure and the manometer can comprise an antimicrobial substance.

The cover can comprise a monometer receiver and the monometer can comprise means to releasably attach the monometer to the monometer receiver. The receiver can comprise a loop and the means to releasably attach the monometer to the receiver can comprise a spring tension clip that can be clipped to the loop. The receiver can comprise loops and the means to releasably attach the monometer to the receiver can comprise hooks (or vice-versa), to form a hook and loop fastening system.

The cover can further comprise a second receiver and an attachment zone. In such a case, the means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being comprises the second receiver and the attachment zone, wherein second receiver is adapted to be removably attached to the attachment zone. For example, the second receiver can comprise loops and the attachment zone can comprise hooks (or vice-versa). Alternatively, the second receiver can comprise a belt with a hole and the attachment zone can comprise a rod capable of fitting through the hole.

Additionally described herein is a method of measuring the blood pressure of a living being comprising the steps of (a) presenting a living being comprising a limb, (b) presenting an embodiment of the blood pressure measurement cuff described above (comprising an inflatable bladder), (c) placing the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being, and (d) measuring the blood pressure of the living being.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of one embodiment of a blood pressure measurement cuff 10;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the blood pressure measurement cuff 10 and a perspective view of a monometer 26 with a spring tensioned clip 40;

FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of the presentation of a living being 60 comprising a limb 46 and the presentation of one embodiment of a blood pressure measurement cuff 10 comprising an inflatable bladder 12;

FIG. 3B depicts a perspective view of the placement of the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60;

FIG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the presentation of a living being 60 comprising a limb 46 and the presentation of a second embodiment of a blood pressure measurement cuff 10 comprising an inflatable bladder 12; and

FIG. 4B depicts a perspective view of the placement of the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In a first embodiment, a blood pressure measurement cuff 10 (FIG. 1) comprises an inflatable bladder 12, a source of fluidic pressure 18 in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder 12, a manometer 26 in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder 12, a cover 32 at least partially covering the inflatable bladder 12, and means to place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to a limb 46 of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being.

The inflatable bladder 12 can be made of any elastomeric material. The inflatable bladder 12 can have a first side 14 and a second side 16. For a cuff 10 used on an arm of a normally sized adult, the first side 14 can be approximately 5 inches long and the second side 16 can be approximately 11.8 inches. For a cuff 10 used on an arm of a large adult, the first side 14 can be approximately 6.1 inches long and the second side 16 can be approximately 15.4 inches. For a cuff 10 used on an arm of a small adult, the first side 14 can be approximately 4 inches long and the second side 16 can be 8.9 inches. For a cuff 10 used on an arm of a child, the first side 14 can be approximately 3.1 inches and the second side 16 can be approximately 6.1 inches. For a cuff 10 used on a thigh of a normally sized adult, the first side 14 can be approximately 7.9 inches and the second side 16 can be approximately 16.9 inches.

The source of fluidic pressure 18 can be a pump that transforms human force into fluid pressure, such as a squeezable ball pump 20. Alternatively, the source of fluidic pressure 18 can be a canister of compressed fluid 22. The compressed fluid 22 can be a gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or air. Alternatively, the source of fluidic pressure 18 can be a regulated wall source 24, such as a hospital room wall outlet of compressed air. The source of fluidic pressure 18 can be an electric powered pump, such as a rechargeable battery powered pump. Tube 27 can provide the fluidic communication between the source of fluidic pressure 18 and the inflatable bladder 12.

The manometer 26 in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder 12 can be a sphygmomanometer. A tube 28 can provide the fluidic communication between the manometer 26 and the inflatable bladder 12. The tube 28 can be greater than 1 foot in length, to allow the user to hold the manometer 26 closer to the user's eyes when the inflatable bladder 12 is sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being, which will aid the user in reading the manometer 26 display of the measured pressure. The manometer 26 measures and displays the fluid pressure exerted in the fluid communication volume between the source of fluidic pressure 18 and the manometer 26, including the tubes 27 and 28 and inflatable bladder 12. The manometer 26 can incorporate a dial display as shown in FIG. 1 to display the measured pressure or a digital display.

The source of fluidic pressure 18 and the manometer 26 can be housed under the same housing. An example is the LifeSource® UA-851THW by A&D Medical (San Jose, Calif.). In such an embodiment, the source of fluidic pressure 18 can be electric powered (such as with a rechargeable battery) and the manometer 26 can have a digital display. Further, the housing can further house a wireless transmitter 66 to transmit blood pressure measurements to transmit the measurements to an electronic medical records (EMR) system, such as those provided by Cerner (Kansas City, Mo.) and Epic (Verona, Wis.).

Blood pressure measurement cuff 10 can further comprise a relief valve 30. As the user allows the pressure from the source of fluidic pressure 18 to travel through tube 28 to inflatable bladder 12, the inflatable bladder 12 inflates, assuming relief valve 30 is in a closed position. The user can deflate the inflatable bladder 12 by manipulating the relief valve 30 to an open position.

A cover 32 at least partially covers the inflatable bladder 12. Cover 32 can comprise opening 34 to allow for the tubes 27 and 28 to provide fluidic communication to the inflatable bladder 12. An insert 62 can be placed within the cover 32 near the first edge 64 of the cover. The insert 62 allows the user to more easily manipulate the cover 32, especially when wrapping the cover 32 around the limb 46 of a living being 60.

Cover 32 comprises an antimicrobial substance 36. The cover 32 can be a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance 36. For example, the cover 32 can be a fabric sprayed with Microguard® (by Microguard, Olivet, France), which is liquid solution containing hydrophilic polymers. As another example, cover 32 could incorporate Microban® antimicrobial plastic additive available from Microban International. The cover 32 can be a fabric sprayed with AEGIS Microbe Shield™ (from Aegis Environments, Midland, Mich.), which is copolymer of chloropropyltrihydroxysilane and octadecylaminodimethyltrihydroxysilylpropyl ammonium chloride. Other antimicrobial substances 36 include 3 trimethoxysilylpropyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, hyaluronan and its derivatives, triclosan, and an organosilicon antimicrobial that is substantially free from arsenic, silver, tin, heavy metals and polychlorinated phenols. The antimicrobial substance 36 could be copper or a silver-ion emitter. One silver-ion emitter is Germ-Gate™ (from Bovie Screen Process Co., Inc., Bow, N.H.), which is a nano particle silver based, liquid coating that can be coated onto a fabric. Another silver-ion emitter is ProtexAG (from Carolina Silver Technologies, North Carolina), which is silver-based coating that can be coated onto fabric. Yet other silver-ion emitting coatings are those available from Covalon Technologies, Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Agion® antimicrobial coating available from Agion Technologies Ltd. of Wakefield, Mass., and Zeolite carrying silver, Model No. XDK101 available from Xiamen Xindakang Inorganic Materials Co., Ltd. In addition, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate may be used as the antimicrobial substance 36. Alternate antimicrobial materials may be used that are tolerant of appropriate cleaning and sterility methods. An example of which is zirconium phosphate such as Model No. XDK801 available from Xiamen Xindakang Inorganic Materials Co., Ltd. In general terms, an antimicrobial substance is capable of emitting ions that aid in the destruction of a microbe.

The surface of the source of fluidic pressure 18, the manometer 26, and all tubes 27/28 can further comprise an antimicrobial substance 36, as well.

Cover 32 can further include a monometer receiver 38 (FIG. 2). The monometer 26 can comprise means to releasably attach the monometer to the monometer receiver 38. If the monometer receiver 38 is a loop of material, such as that shown at FIG. 2, such means could include a clip 40, which is a spring tensioned clip so that as the user presses the first end 42 towards the body of the monometer 26, the second end 44 extends away from the body of the monometer 26. When the second end 44 is extended away from the body of the monometer 26, the user can place the second end 44 in the space between monometer receiver 38 and cover 32 and, then, release the first end 42 of the clip 40 to cause the second end 44 to retract and thus clipping the monometer 26 to the monometer receiver 38.

An alternative means to releasably attach the monometer to the monometer receiver 38 could include the monometer receiver 38 comprising a fabric of loops and the monometer 26 comprising a fabric of hooks (or vice-versa). The loops can releasably attach to the hooks.

The cover 32 can further comprise a second receiver (such as fabric of loops 48 (FIG. 3A)) and an attachment zone (such as fabric of hooks 50). The means to place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to a limb 46 of a living being 60 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60 can comprise the second receiver and the attachment zone. The second receiver is adapted to be removably attached to the attachment zone. For example, the second receiver can be a fabric of loops 48, while the attachment zone can be a fabric of hooks 50 (or vice-versa), and thus the loops 48 of the second receiver can releasably attach to the hooks 50 of the attachment zone and thereby place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure, as shown in FIG. 3B. As another example, the second receiver can be a belt 52 (FIG. 4A) with holes 54, while the attachment zone can be a belt loop 56 and a rod 58, which is capable of fitting through one of the holes 54. The user can feed the belt 52 through the belt loop 56 and insert rod 58 into one of the holes 54 and thereby place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure, as shown in FIG. 4B.

As a method of measuring the blood pressure of a living being, the user could (a) present a living being comprising a limb 46; (b) present an embodiment of the blood pressure measurement cuff 10 described above having an inflatable bladder 12; (c) place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60; and (d) measure the blood pressure of the living being 60. The blood pressure measurement cuff 10 further comprises a source of fluidic pressure 18 in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder 12, a manometer 26 in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder 12, a cover 32 at least partially covering the inflatable bladder 12 and comprising an antimicrobial substance 36, and means to place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 of the living being 60 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60. The cover 32 could be a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance 26, such as a silver-ion emitter.

To place the inflatable bladder 12 sufficiently close to the limb 46 to allow measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60, the user could attach fabric of loops 48 to fabric of hooks 50 (FIGS. 3A, 3B) or attach belt 52 with holes 54 to belt loop 56 with rod 58 (FIGS. 4A, 4B), as explained above. That way, the cover 32 surrounds the limb 46 and pushes the inflatable bladder 12 close enough to the limb 46 to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being 60. The user measures the blood pressure of the living being 60 in the way known in the art, reading the manometer 26. A wireless transmitter 66 can transmit the measured blood pressure to an EMR system.

The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A blood pressure measurement cuff comprising:

an inflatable bladder;
a source of fluidic pressure in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder;
a manometer in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder;
a cover at least partially covering the inflatable bladder;
the cover comprising an antimicrobial substance; and
means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being.

2. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the source of fluidic pressure comprising a pump that transforms human force into fluid pressure.

3. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the source of fluidic comprising a canister of compressed fluid.

4. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the manometer comprising a dial display.

5. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the manometer comprising a digital display.

6. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1 further comprising a tube providing fluidic communication between the manometer and the inflatable bladder, the tube comprising a first length, the first length being greater than 1 foot.

7. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the cover comprising a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance.

8. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 7, the antimicrobial substance comprising a silver-ion emitter.

9. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 7, the antimicrobial substance comprising any one of 3 trimethoxysilylpropyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, hyaluronan and its derivatives, triclosan, or a copolymer of chloropropyltrihydroxysilane and octadecylaminodimethyltrihydroxysilylpropyl ammonium chloride.

10. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 7, the antimicrobial substance capable of emitting ions that aid in the destruction of a microbe.

11. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1, the cover comprising a monometer receiver and the monometer comprising means to releasably attach the monometer to the monometer receiver.

12. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 11, the receiver comprising a loop and the means to releasably attach the monometer to the receiver comprising a spring tension clip.

13. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 11, the receiver comprising loops and the means to releasably attach the monometer to the receiver comprising hooks.

14. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 1,

the cover further comprising a second receiver and an attachment zone, and
the means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to a limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being comprising the second receiver and the attachment zone, wherein second receiver is adapted to be removably attached to the attachment zone.

15. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 14, the second receiver comprising loops and the attachment zone comprising hooks.

16. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 14, the second receiver comprising a belt comprising a hole and the attachment zone comprising a rod capable of fitting through the hole.

17. The blood pressure measurement cuff of claim 7, further comprising a housing that houses both the source of fluidic pressure and the manometer and the housing further comprises a wireless transmitter and an antimicrobial substance,

wherein the manometer comprises a digital display, the source of fluidic pressure is electric powered, and the wireless transmitter is capable of transmitting blood pressure measurement data to an electric medical records system.

18. A method of measuring the blood pressure of a living being comprising the steps of:

a. presenting a living being comprising a limb;
b. presenting a blood pressure measurement cuff comprising: an inflatable bladder; a source of fluidic pressure in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder; a manometer in fluidic communication with the inflatable bladder; a cover at least partially covering the inflatable bladder; the cover comprising an antimicrobial substance; and means to place the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to the limb of the living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being; and
c. placing the inflatable bladder sufficiently close to the limb of a living being to allow the measurement of the blood pressure of the living being; and
d. measuring the blood pressure of the living being.

19. The method of claim 18, the cover comprising a fabric coated with an antimicrobial substance.

20. The method of claim 19, the antimicrobial substance comprising a silver-ion emitter.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100331710
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 30, 2010
Inventor: Patrick Eddy (Allendale, MI)
Application Number: 12/720,824
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Electric Signal Generated By Sensing Means Responsive To Pulse Or Korotkoff Sounds (600/493); Wearing Apparel, Fabric, Or Cloth (424/402); Silver (424/618); Polysaccharide (514/54); Additional Benzene Ring Containing (514/736); Silicon Containing Doai (514/63)
International Classification: A61B 5/0225 (20060101); A01N 25/34 (20060101); A01N 59/16 (20060101); A01N 43/16 (20060101); A01N 31/14 (20060101); A01N 55/10 (20060101); A01P 1/00 (20060101);