Abstract: A method and a device for non-invasive blood pressure measurement wherein the angle between the hand and the wrist, and the turning angle of the wrist relative to the middle part of the forearm, are kept to the most suitable degree for measuring the blood pressure of the radial artery. At least one pressure bladder and one arterial pulse transducer array are placed on the skin over the radial artery of the wrist to apply the external pressure to the artery and to detect the change of the arterial pulse signals. This method and device can correctly measure the intermittent or continuous blood pressure of the radial artery or the ulnar artery based on the principles of oscillation method and volume compensation method, and effectively eliminate the influence on the measurement due to body movement and the influence on blood circulation and neural function of the hand caused by long-term blood pressure measurement.

Abstract: Provide is a wrist type blood pressure meter cuff not oppressing the non-selected artery so as to prevent its pulse waves from mixing into pulse waves of the selected artery necessary for measurement, in a cuff used in a blood pressure meter for measuring blood pressures by selecting and oppressing one artery of the wrist. A wrist type blood pressure meter cuff comprises a fluid bag for oppressing a selected artery of either radial artery or ulnar artery located at the wrist by feeding fluid inside to inflate, and a fixing member for fixing the fluid bag at the wrist. By forming a gap between the fixing member and the wrist, the oppressing pressure directly applied from the fixing member to the wrist at which the non-selected artery is located is set smaller than the oppressing pressure directly applied from the fixing member to other position of the wrist when oppressing the wrist by inflating the fluid bag. This gap is produced by a swollen part provided in the fixing member.

Abstract: An ankle-blood-pressure measuring apparatus for measuring a blood pressure of an ankle of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be worn on the ankle of the subject; a cuff-pressure changing device which decreases a pressure in the cuff from a pressure higher than a systolic blood pressure of the ankle; a distal-pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a distal portion of the subject that is located on a distal side of the ankle and detects a distal pulse wave produced from the distal portion; an increasing-point detecting device for detecting at least one increasing point where a magnitude of the distal pulse wave continuously detected by the distal-pulse-wave detecting device when the pressure of the cuff is decreased by the cuff-pressure changing device, significantly increases; and an ankle-blood-pressure determining device which determines a pressure of the cuff when the increasing-point detecting device detects the second increasing point, as a systolic bloo

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus having an inflatable cuff including a first inflatable bag adapted to be worn on a body portion of a living subject so as to exclude blood from an artery located in the body portion, and a second inflatable bag adapted to be worn on the body portion, on a distal side of a middle portion of the first inflatable bag, so as to detect a pulse wave produced from the artery, a first piping which is connected to the first inflatable bag, a second piping which is branched from the first piping and is connected to the second inflatable bag, a pump which supplies an inflating fluid to the first and second inflatable bags via the first and second pipings, respectively, a blood pressure determining device which determines a blood pressure of the subject based on the pulse wave detected through the second inflatable bag when a pressing pressure of the first inflatable bag is changed, and a switching device which is provided in the second piping and which selectively switches the second

Abstract: A visceral fat scale equipped with a sphygmomanometer is described, with which a subject can keep track of blood pressure values and grasp the state of obesity to attain more accurate, comprehensive and diversified diagnoses and disease prevention. The visceral fat scale is designed such that after exerting pressure to an artery of a subject by inflation of a cuff, a pulse wave signal is detected in the course of gradual cuff deflation and blood pressure is obtained based on the detected pulse wave signal. The scale comprises an increment/decrement key and display mode selector key for inputting personal data of the subject; an arithmetic operation unit for calculating the amount of visceral fat of the subject based on data input by these keys; and a display unit for displaying a result of the calculation performed by the arithmetic operation unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pneumatic control of a blood pressure determination are disclosed. The method and apparatus comprise an inflatable cuff for obtaining a blood pressure measurement from a patient, a hose configured to operate with a pressurizing apparatus for providing pressurization of the inflatable cuff, the hose including a patient end and a non-patient end. In addition the method and apparatus comprise a pneumatic switch coupled to the inflatable cuff near the patient end of the hose.

Abstract: Blood pressure measurement is precisely performed by more correctly determining positions of a cuff and a heart without being affected by variations in physical features among subject persons and their postures during the measurement. With the technique of the present invention, there are calculated the altitudes of the cuff and the heart on the basis of an inputted upper arm length and forearm length of a subject person and forearm angles detected in the pitch direction and roll direction. Also, in addition to a forearm angle detecting means, an upper arm angle detecting means is provided and the altitudes of the cuff and the heart are calculated on the basis of detected angles of a forearm and an upper arm. Also, a biaxial angle detecting means detects angles of the forearm in the pitch direction and the roll direction and calculates the altitudes of the cuff and the heart on the basis of these detected values.

Abstract: A blood-pressure estimating apparatus, including a pulse-wave detecting device which detects a pulse wave from a portion of a living subject, a blood-pressure measuring device which includes an inflatable cuff adapted to be worn on the portion of the subject and measures, with the cuff, a diastolic blood pressure and a systolic blood pressure of the portion of the subject, and a mean-blood-pressure estimating device which converts, based on a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude of the pulse wave detected by the pulse-wave detecting device and the diastolic and systolic blood pressure measured by the blood-pressure measuring device, a magnitude of a gravity center of an area defined by the pulse wave into an estimated mean blood pressure of the portion of the subject.

Abstract: In a cuff of a blood pressure monitor, a distance along bending of a first expandable portion is set so as to be different from a distance along bending of a second expandable portion at the time of deflation. When a fluid bladder for pressurizing is inflated with a fluid fed thereinto, the second expandable portion expands longer. As a result, force, which is generated on a cuff fixing element which is pushed by the fluid bladder for pressurizing, acts to a vertical direction with respect to an axial direction of a subject.

Abstract: A monitor for determining a patient's physiological parameter includes a calibration device that provides a calibration signal indicative of an accurate measurement of the patient's physiological parameter. The monitor also includes a processor, which receives a noninvasive signal from a noninvasive sensor positioned over a blood vessel. The processor uses the calibration signal to calibrate a relationship between the noninvasive signal and a property of the physiological parameter. The processor also determines when to recalibrate the relationship.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a blood pressure monitoring device comprising a central parts mounting module and to a method of manufacturing this parts mounting module. According to the invention fluid channels are produced by gas injection into the interior of the parts mounting module, the walls bounding the fluid channels being completely formed by the material of the parts mounting module. The injection of gas continues for as long as a core of the parts mounting module is still in the liquid phase in the area of the fluid channel, whilst an outer area surrounding the core has already solidified, so that the pressure fluid expels the liquid core area, producing a tubular fluid channel.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring apparatus is disclosed which is capable of measuring the pulse wave accurately in stable fashion and which can be reduced in size and integrated for an improved convenience. The pulse wave measuring apparatus comprises a sensor unit having a plurality of semiconductor pressure sensors, a fixing stand for fixing a living organism in position, a pressure cuff for pressing the semiconductor pressure sensors against the living organism, and a press operation control unit for controlling the press operation of the pressure cuff. The press operation control unit is arranged in the fixing stand.

Abstract: In a vasodilatation index measuring and analyzing system, a measuring unit includes a measuring device for measuring standard and comparative pulses of a digit of a subject in relaxed and comparative states, respectively. An external pressure is applied to a limb part of the subject to occlude blood flow to the digit following measurement of the standard pulse. The comparative pulse is measured upon release of the external pressure. A pre-processing unit is coupled to the measuring unit for filtering noise from and digitizing the standard and comparative pulses obtained by the measuring device. An analyzing unit is coupled to the pre-processing unit for calculating standard and comparative pulse areas of at least one cycle of the standard and comparative pulses processed by the pre-processing unit, respectively, and for subsequently calculating a pre-defined index related to a difference between the standard and comparative pulse areas.

Abstract: A blood-pressure measuring apparatus including a cuff which is adapted to be worn on a portion of a living subject to press the portion, a waveform analyzing device for analyzing a form of a cuff pulse wave which is obtained from the cuff, and a cuff-pulse-wave obtaining device for obtaining, before the cuff presses the portion of the subject for measuring a blood pressure of the subject, the cuff pulse wave from the cuff so that the waveform analyzing device analyzes the form of the cuff pulse wave.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitor including a cuff, a pressure sensor which detects a pressure in the cuff, a pressure regulating device which increases the pressure of the cuff, a pulse-amplitude determining device for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of a pulse wave which are produced in the cuff and detected by the pressure sensor while the cuff pressure is increased, a candidate determining device for determining, as a diastolic BP candidate, a pressure of the cuff which is detected by the pressure sensor and which corresponds to an amplitude of a first pulse of the pulses determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device, by judging whether the amplitude of the first pulse is not greater than a reference value which is smaller than an amplitude of at least one second pulse of the pulses, by a predetermined proportion of the amplitude of the second pulse, the amplitude of the second pulse being determined by the pulse-amplitude determining device after the amplitude of the first pulse is determined, a

Abstract: A method and device are provided for self-monitoring a patient's blood glucose condition to determine a long-term effect of the patient's behavior on his blood glucose level. A sequence of measurements of the blood glucose level is applied during a day, the sequential measurements are repeated during a predetermined time period from several days to several weeks, and measured data are collected. The measured data is analyzed to determine a distribution of the average glucose values within said predetermined time period, thereby providing a feedback for the patient or an authorized person.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a degree of arteriosclerosis of a living subject, including: a pulse-wave detecting device adapted to be worn on a first portion of the living subject; a pressing device adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject located on a distal side of the first portion, for pressing the second portion so as to restrict a flow of blood at the second portion; and an arteriosclerosis-related information obtaining device which obtains arteriosclerosis-related information used for evaluating said degree of arteriosclerosis of the subject, based on a peak point of an incident-wave component, and a peak point of a reflected-wave component, of a pulse of a pulse wave that is detected by the pulse-wave detecting device in a state in which the flow of blood is restricted by the pressing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pneumatic control of a blood pressure determination are disclosed. The method and apparatus comprise an inflatable cuff for obtaining a blood pressure measurement from a patient, a hose configured to operate with a pressurizing apparatus for providing pressurization of the inflatable cuff, the hose including a patient end and a non-patient end. In addition the method and apparatus comprise a pneumatic switch coupled to the inflatable cuff near the patient end of the hose.

Abstract: An oscillometric automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of a living subject, so as to detect respective amplitudes of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a cuff pulse wave as an oscillatory component that is produced in the cuff in synchronism with heartbeats of the subject in a cuff-pressure change process in which a cuff pressure as a pressure in the cuff is changed, a cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude correcting device for correcting the respective amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, according to a predetermined non-linear relationship between difference between cuff pressure and subject's mean blood pressure, and amplitude of cuff pulse wave, and a blood-pressure determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the corrected amplitudes of the cuff pulse wave.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which has an inside surface adapted to contact a body surface of the subject and an outside surface exposed to an ambient air, and which is adapted to be wound around a portion of the subject to press the portion of the subject, a temperature sensor which is provided in the inside surface of the cuff and detects, in a state in which the cuff is wound around the portion of the subject, a temperature of the portion of the subject, and a display device which displays the temperature of the portion of the subject detected by the first temperature sensor.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic blood pressure monitor capable of realizing functions of blood pressure measurement in a shorter time and blood pressure measurement with more of correctness in the same and one construction thereof. The electronic blood pressure monitor includes: an oscillometric measuring section capable of calculating a blood pressure with a high precision using much of biogenic information though a time is required since a blood pressure is calculated during a period in which the cuff pressure is gradually changed; and an SPD measuring section completing measurement in a short time though a fluctuation in precision of measurement arises according to an with less of biogenic information since individual difference a blood pressure is calculated using only one or several pulse waves. Since the oscillometric measuring portion performs a calibration processing for the SPD measuring section simultaneously during measurement thereof, calibrating operation a complicated can be practically excluded.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring blood pressure and heart rate in an environment comprising extreme levels of noise and vibrations is disclosed. Blood pressure signals corresponding to the Korotkoff sounds are detected using an array of primary acoustic sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A secondary acoustic transducer is placed on the outside of a pressure cuff the patient away for detecting noise and vibrations. Pressure is applied to the artery using the pressure cuff forcing the artery to close. The pressure is then reduced and while reducing the pressure the acoustic signals detected by the first and second acoustic sensor as well as a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the artery are provided to a processor. The signals provided by the primary acoustic sensors are then processed using a combination of focused beamforming and planar wave beamforming.

Abstract: A blood-pressure measuring apparatus including a cuff which is adapted to be worn on a portion of a living subject to press the portion, an augmentation-index determining device for determining an augmentation index of the subject based on a cuff pulse wave obtained from the cuff, and a cuff-pulse-wave obtaining device for obtaining, during a pressing period in which the cuff presses the portion of the subject for measuring a blood pressure of the subject, the cuff pulse wave from the cuff so that the augmentation-index determining device determines the augmentation index based on the obtained cuff pulse wave.

Abstract: An inflatable product includes overlapped areas of flexible material forming an inflatable pouch that is bounded by bonded regions of the flexible material and that includes a limited opening for inflating the pouch. The flexible material includes multiple fastening regions including a first fastening region in which an array of fastener elements with stems are arranged, the stems are integrally molded with and extending from a common resin substrate, and a second fastening region of fibrous loops releasably engageable with the fastener elements.

Abstract: An air pressure-adjusting device is provided for adjusting the air pressure in a container. A force is generated by the deflection of a deformation element in the device, which interacts with the force exerted on the deformation element by air in the container. As a result, the rate of lowering air pressure in the bladder of a blood pressure monitor may be controlled accurately.

Abstract: An augmentation-index measuring apparatus including a cuff which is adapted to be worn on a portion of a living subject to press the portion, an augmentation-index determining device for determining an augmentation index of the subject based on a cuff pulse wave obtained from the cuff, and a preliminary pressing device for preliminarily pressing, before the cuff pulse wave is obtained, for the determination of the augmentation index, from the cuff having a pulse-wave detection pressure, the portion of the subject using the cuff having a pressure higher than the pulse-wave detection pressure.

Abstract: A pulse wave analyzing apparatus including a cuff 12 for detecting a pulse wave from a living subject, a pressure sensor 16 for converting the pulse wave detected by the cuff 12, into an electric signal, i.e., a pulse wave signal SM, a plurality of band-pass filters 62 CBPF(1), BPF(2), . . . , BPF(n)) that have respective low-side cuff-off frequency bands differing from each other and each receive the pulse wave signal SM, a provisional rising point determining device 64 for determining respective times PS of respective provisional rising points of respective pulse waves represented by respective secondary pulse wave signals SM2 that have passed through the band-pass filters 62, and a proper rising point determining device 66 for comparing the respective times PS of respective provisional rising points with each other and thereby determining a time AS of a proper rising point based on the respective times PS of respective provisional rising points.

Abstract: A method and system for determining when to make a reversion to smaller cuff pressure steps during an oscillometric blood pressure measurement is disclosed. The method and system comprise comparing conformance of oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with previous blood pressure data, including measuring a shift between the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data and an oscillometric envelope derived from the previous blood pressure data. In addition, the method and system include making a reversion decision based on whether the shift exceeds an allowable threshold. Once a reversion decision is made a subsequent decision may be made as to the need for increasing the cuff pressure level.

Abstract: An apparatus including a brachium cuff 40 worn on a brachium of a patient, an ankle cuff 20 worn on an ankle of the patient, and a cuff pressure changing device 70 that slowly changes, in a blood pressure measuring operation, respective pressing pressures of the brachium and ankle cuffs 40, 20, while keeping the respective pressing pressures equal to each other. The apparatus additionally includes a pulse wave propagation velocity determining means 78 that determines a pulse wave propagation velocity PWV based on brachium and ankle pulse waves that are detected by the brachium and ankle cuffs 40, 20, respectively, when the respective pressing pressures of the brachium and ankle cuffs 40, 20 are equal to a systolic blood pressure of the brachium of the patient.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable cuff which can be wrapped about the limb of a patient. The sleeve includes a sealed interior capable of inflation, and an integrated inflation/measuring device. The integrated device is an elastomeric enclosure which retains a gage and a pneumatic bulb therein and hosing for fluidly interconnecting the pneumatic bulb, the inflatable cuff, and the gage.

Abstract: In an venous distensibility evaluation index measuring apparatus, a pressure adjusting section generates a pressure to supply it to a venous occluding section; in response thereto the venous occluding section starts to press a vein in the upper arm; upon this operation, an electrode section causes a current to flow, while detecting a voltage at that time; an impedance conversion section converts this detected voltage in combination with the supplied current into an impedance; an impedance transition gradient calculating unit determines a gradient of a rate of change in impedance to the elapsed time; a venous distensibility evaluation index determining unit determines a venous age corresponding to said gradient of the rate of change in impedance to the elapsed time as well as a venous sclerosis level corresponding to the venous age based on the relation data stored previously in a storage section; and finally a display section indicates the venous age and the venous sclerosis level.

Abstract: A method and system for eliminating artifacts in an oscillation envelope are disclosed. The method and system comprise evaluating conformance of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data with a predetermined expected pattern and excluding one or more data points of the oscillometric envelope blood pressure data based on non-conformance with the expected pattern. The expected pattern is based upon generally known physiological principles relating to oscillometric envelopes, a curve fit representing an oscillometric envelope from a previous determination, or other types of criteria.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring arterial compliance using combined noninvasive arterial tonometry and cuff oscillometry. Some embodiments include a calibration method using an oscillometric signal to calibrate the pressures of tonometric signals in a contralateral arterial site. The times at which two of the three oscillometric blood pressures (systolic pressure, mean pressure, diastolic pressure) are acquired are identified with times of uncalibrated tonometric pressure waveform. These blood pressures are then used to calibrate the tonometric pressure waveform along (optionally) with adjustments for head pressure. For example, a left brachial arterial cuff oscillometric signal is acquired coincidentally with an uncalibrated right radial arterial pressure tonometric signal. The time points of mean arterial pressure and diastolic pressure are determined from the oscillometric signal and identified with coinciding time points on the tonometric signal to produce a calibration.

Abstract: An ankle-blood-pressure measuring apparatus for measuring a blood pressure of an ankle of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be worn on the ankle of the subject; a cuff-pressure changing device which decreases a pressure in the cuff from a pressure higher than a systolic blood pressure of the ankle; a distal-pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a distal portion of the subject that is located on a distal side of the ankle and detects a distal pulse wave produced from the distal portion; an increasing-point detecting device for detecting at least one increasing point where a magnitude of the distal pulse wave continuously detected by the distal-pulse-wave detecting device when the pressure of the cuff is decreased by the cuff-pressure changing device, significantly increases; and an ankle-blood-pressure determining device which determines a pressure of the cuff when the increasing-point detecting device detects the second increasing point, as a systolic bloo

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus oppresses blood vessels of a human body by an inflating unit through a cuff. When the blood vessels are oppressed through the cuff, a pulse wave superposed on a cuff pressure signal through a cuff pressure detector is detected by a pulse wave detector. The waveform of the detected pulse wave changes similarly to changes of pressure in the oppressed blood vessels in one heartbeat period. The information of the detected pulse wave waveform and the cuff pressure at this time are stored in a memory.

Abstract: An arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus, including a plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices which are adapted to be worn on a plurality of portions of a living subject, respectively, and detect respective pulse waves that are produced in synchronism with each other from respective arteries of the plurality of portions of the subject, a memory device which stores the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and detected by the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices, and a pulse-wave-display control device for controlling a display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and stored by the memory device, such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus, including a cuff adapted to be worn on a body portion of a living subject, and determining a blood pressure value of the subject based on a signal obtained from the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed, wherein the apparatus includes: a cuff pulse wave detecting device which detects a cuff pulse wave as a pulse wave produced from an artery of the subject and transmitted to the cuff, the cuff pulse wave comprising at least one heartbeat-synchronous pulse produced from the artery in synchronism with at least one heartbeat of the subject; a converting device which converts, based on the blood pressure value determined by the apparatus, a magnitude of each point of the heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave, into a pressure value; and a pseudo-pressure-pulse-wave determining device which determines a pseudo pressure pulse wave by correcting the respective pressure values of the respective points of the pulse, provided by the converting device, according to

Abstract: An arteriostenosis inspecting apparatus including a left-superior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device which measures a left-superior-limb blood pressure of a left superior limb of a living subject, a right-superior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device which measures a right-superior-limb blood pressure of a right superior limb of the subject, and a left-and-right-superior-limb-blood-pressure-ratio determining device which determines a left-and-right-superior-limb blood-pressure ratio as a ratio of one of the left-superior-limb blood pressure and the right-superior-limb blood pressure to the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced by an artery of a living subject, including a pressure-pulse-wave sensor which has a pressing surface, and pressure-detecting elements that are arranged, in the pressing surface, in an array in a widthwise direction of the artery, a pressing device which presses, with a pressing force, the pressure-pulse-wave sensor against the artery via a skin of the subject, so that each of the pressure-detecting elements detects the pressure pulse wave produced by the artery, a highest-pressure-detecting-element selecting device for selecting, as a highest-pressure-detecting element, a first one of the pressure-detecting elements that detects a highest one of respective pressures corresponding to the respective pressure pulse waves detected by the pressure-detecting elements, and a pressing-force checking device for judging whether the pressing force of the pressing device applied to the pressure-pulse-wave sensor is appropriate, based on a time difference between

Abstract: An automatic non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system includes a blood pressure monitor, a blood pressure cuff pneumatically connected to the blood pressure monitor, a deflation valve connected intermediate the blood pressure monitor and the blood pressure cuff, and a controller for automatically controlling the non-invasive blood pressure monitoring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, by applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude arterial blood flow therein; maintaining the occluding pressure for a predetermined time period; removing the occluding pressure after the elapse of the predetermined time period to restore arterial blood flow; monitoring a digit of the arm or leg by a digit-probe for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of the occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient; and utilizing any detected changes in the peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring arterial compliance using combined noninvasive arterial tonometry and cuff oscillometry. Some embodiments include a calibration method using an oscillometric signal to calibrate the pressures of tonometric signals in a contralateral arterial site. The times at which two of the three oscillometric blood pressures (systolic pressure, mean pressure, diastolic pressure) are acquired are identified with times of un-calibrated tonometric pressure waveform. These blood pressures are then used to calibrate the tonometric pressure waveform along (optionally) with adjustments for head pressure. For example, a left brachial arterial cuff oscillometric signal is acquired coincidentally with an un-calibrated right radial arterial pressure tonometric signal. The time points of mean arterial pressure and diastolic pressure are determined from the oscillometric signal and identified with coinciding time points on the tonometric signal to produce a calibration.

Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing arteriosclerosis of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a first portion of the subject to press the first portion with a pressing pressure, a pulse-wave detecting device which detects a pulse wave that is produced from an artery of the first portion of the subject pressed by the cuff with the pressing pressure and is transmitted to the cuff, and an arteriosclerosis judging device for judging, based on a change of the pulse wave caused by a change of the pressing pressure of the cuff, whether there is an arteriosclerotic lesion in a second portion of the subject that is located upstream of the first portion in a direction in which blood flows in the artery.

Abstract: An arteriosclerosis-degree evaluating apparatus, including a blood-pressure measuring device which iteratively measures a blood pressure value of a living subject, a pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-related-information obtaining device which iteratively obtains, at substantially a same time as a time when the blood-pressure measuring device measures each blood pressure value of the living subject, a piece of pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-related information that is related to a velocity at which a pulse wave propagates through an artery of the subject, and an output device which outputs a change of the pieces of pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-related information iteratively obtained by the pulse-wave-propagation-velocity-related-information obtaining device, relative to a change of the blood pressure values iteratively measured by the blood-pressure measuring device.

Abstract: An advertising method, including the step of displaying, during a blood-pressure measuring operation of an automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus including an inflatable cuff and a display device, an advertisement on the display device.

Abstract: Blood pressure measurement is precisely performed by more correctly determining positions of a cuff and a heart without being affected by variations in physical features among subject persons and their postures during the measurement. With the technique of the present invention, there are calculated the altitudes of the cuff and the heart on the basis of an inputted upper arm length and forearm length of a subject person and forearm angles detected in the pitch direction and roll direction. Also, in addition to a forearm angle detecting means, an upper arm angle detecting means is provided and the altitudes of the cuff and the heart are calculated on the basis of detected angles of a forearm and an upper arm. Also, a biaxial angle detecting means detects angles of the forearm in the pitch direction and the roll direction and calculates the altitudes of the cuff and the heart on the basis of these detected values.

Abstract: A visceral fat scale equipped with a sphygmomanometer is described, with which a subject can keep track of blood pressure values and grasp the state of obesity to attain more accurate, comprehensive and diversified diagnoses and disease prevention. The visceral fat scale is designed such that after exerting pressure to an artery of a subject by inflation of a cuff, a pulse wave signal is detected in the course of gradual cuff deflation and blood pressure is obtained based on the detected pulse wave signal. The scale comprises an increment/decrement key and display mode selector key for inputting personal data of the subject; an arithmetic operation unit for calculating the amount of visceral fat of the subject based on data input by these keys; and a display unit for displaying a result of the calculation performed by the arithmetic operation unit.

Abstract: A vital-information obtaining apparatus including a cuff to be worn on a predetermined portion of a living subject, a cuff-pressure control device operable to control an inflation pressure of the cuff, a cuff-pulse-wave detecting device operable to detect a cuff pulse wave which is a pressure pulsation transmitted from the living subject to the cuff, and a vital-information determining device operable while an inflation pressure of the cuff is held at a value higher than a systolic blood pressure of the subject under the control of the cuff-pressure control device, and wherein the vital-information determining means determines vital information of the subject, on the basis of a notch of the cuff pulse wave detected by the cuff-pulse-wave detecting device.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more hemodynamic parameters associated with the circulatory system of a living organism. In one aspect, the invention comprises apparatus adapted to accurately place and maintain a sensor (e.g., tonometric pressure sensor) with respect to the anatomy of the subject, including an alignment apparatus which is separable from an adjustable fixture. The alignment apparatus moveably captures the sensor to, inter alia, facilitate coupling thereof to an actuator used to position the sensor during measurements. The alignment apparatus also advantageously allows the sensor position to be maintained when the fixture is removed from the subject, such as during patient transport. Methods for positioning the alignment apparatus and sensor, correcting for hydrostatic pressure effects, and providing treatment to the subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure using linearly varying air pressure, including a compression unit; an air pump that injects air into the compression unit; a pressure sensor that senses and outputs the air pressure of the compression unit; an ADC that converts and outputs the result of the sensing as a pressure signal; a controller that calculates a current pressure value of the compression unit from the pressure signal and a linear pressure of the compression unit that is linearly dropped corresponding to the current pressure value and generates the first control signal in response to the current pressure value and a second control signal from the result of a comparison of the current pressure value and the linear pressure; a DAC that converts and outputs the second control signal as an exhaust control signal; and a proportional control valve that exhausts air from the compression unit.