Abstract: A method and system for operating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor that utilizes an SpO2 plethysmographic signal to reduce the time required to obtain an estimation of a patient's blood pressure. During operation of the NIBP monitor, the NIBP monitor utilizes the SpO2 plethysmographic signal to determine a timing period and a deflation period for each pulse associated with the patient's heartbeat. Upon receiving an oscillation pulse, the NIBP monitor determines the oscillation amplitude during the timing period and deflates the blood pressure cuff during the deflation period immediately following the timing period. Preferably, the deflation period occurs during the same oscillation pulse used to calculate the oscillation pulse amplitude to decrease the amount of time required to obtain a blood pressure estimate from the patient.

Abstract: A method of eliminating vibration interferences of a sphygmomanometer for measuring blood pressure uses a pressure sensor and an acceleration sensor to measure a voltage-time variation waveform of blood pressure detected by an acceleration sensor. An interference variation waveform is subtracted from the measured voltage-time variation waveform to calculate the correct blood pressure value. During measurement, the acceleration sensor detects and determines whether the vibration interference falls within a predetermined allowable range; if yes, a warning signal is issued to remind users to measure blood pressure again; if no, the acceleration sensor detects an interference variation waveform.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement system is configured to perform a calibration automatically when a calibration condition is satisfied. The calibration condition is based upon one or more parameters of pulse waves of a subject. The parameters may include pulse wave area; a time difference between systolic peak and reflected wave peak or dichrotic notch in the pulse wave and a shape of at least a portion of the pulse wave.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of calculating an initial inflation pressure during a blood pressure determination using an NIB system. The cuff provided with the system is inflated towards a default initial inflation pressure and a plurality of oscillometric pulses are obtained during inflation. A quick systolic pressure is estimated from a pre-defined function having a physiologically- expected shape of an oscillometric envelope fitted to oscillometric data obtained during the inflation. In an embodiment, the parameters within the function are specifically found by fitting a plurality of oscillometric pulse amplitudes along with their corresponding cuff pressures obtained during inflation to the pre-defined function. The cuff is inflated up to a calculated initial inflation pressure, which is found from the estimated quick systolic pressure.

Abstract: The blood pressure monitor 100 includes plural case members 111 to 116 that are rotatably connected with one another to form a housing unit housing a cuff. The plural case members 111 to 116 are connected with plural torque hinges 140 or plural rotation hinges 150, and rotate to be transformed between a closed state in which the case members 111 to 116 are collapsed with the cuff housed herein, and an open state in which the case members 111 to 116 are opened.

Abstract: To provide a technique which makes it possible to obtain a proper pulse wave signal for high-accuracy blood pressure measurements, thereby saving the trouble of taking measurements repeatedly and reducing a physical burden imposed on the user by cuff pressure.

Abstract: The invention is in one embodiment an apparatus and a method for measuring the blood pressure of a vertebrate subject. The apparatus uses an inflatable chamber with a sensor to detect signals indicative of a blood pressure of the subject during an inflation interval of the inflatable chamber. If secondary motion or artifact signals are detected, the apparatus and method determine whether the secondary signals are below a predetermined value, and if so, complete the measurement. If the signals indicate that the measurement is not accurate, the system and method immediately institute a measurement of the blood pressure during a deflation interval, which can include a step deflation interval. In the event that the subject is identified as a neonate, the system and method immediately measure using the deflation interval procedure.

Abstract: A method for the continuous non-invasive measurement of blood pressure includes at least one first pressure cuff and one second pressure cuff of comparable or identical size, each cuff including an inflatable pressure measuring chamber applicable to a first and a second body part or region containing an artery. The first pressure cuff has a first plethysmographic sensor connected to a regulating and control device used to regulate the pressure in a first pressure measuring chamber by means of a measuring signal of the plethysmographic sensor. The first pressure measuring chamber is connected to a pressure sensor in order to obtain a pressure measuring signal. The second pressure measuring chamber is a reference pressure chamber that can be regulated at the same time as the first pressure measuring chamber, independently therefrom, and can be regulated by the regulating and control device according to a pre-determinable pressure function.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor that utilizes an SpO2 plethysmograph signal to determine the initial inflation pressure for the blood pressure cuff of the NIBP monitor. A pulse sensor is placed on the patient's limb distal to the blood pressure cuff such that as the blood pressure cuff is inflated, the pulse signals from the pulse sensor will be reduced. When the blood pressure cuff reaches systolic pressure, the pulse signals from the pulse sensor will be initially attenuated and eventually eliminated, thus providing an indication that the cuff pressure has reached systolic pressure for the patient. The central processor of the NIBP monitor compares the pulse signals during cuff inflation to an average pulse signal and terminates the inflation of the blood pressure cuff upon sufficient attenuation.

Abstract: A blood pressure manometer comprises a body and a separate display, and the body and separate display are provided with first and second communication parts, respectively. The first communication part has a light emitting element and is configured so that the element sends an infrared signal including blood pressure data. The second communication part has a light receiving element and is configured so that the light receiving element receives the infrared signal including the blood pressure data from the first communication part. The light emitting element is supported by the body to be opposite a subject even if a blood pressure measuring portion of the body measures the subject's blood pressure from any of the subject's left and right regions. The light receiving element is supported by the separate display to received the infrared signal which is sent from the light emitting element to be reflected on the subject.

Abstract: A subject evaluation value measuring apparatus 10, functioning as a cuff volumetric pulse wave obtaining apparatus, includes a pulse wave determining device (i.e., a cuff volumetric pulse wave determining device) 52 that determines, using an inverse transfer function 1H(f), stored in a ROM (i.e., an inverse transfer function memory) 42, that corresponds to a pre-determined transfer function H(f) between input, i.e., pressure pulsation produced in a cuff 20, and output, i.e., pressure pulsation detected by a pressure sensor 24, a no-delay cuff volumetric pulse wave PK(t) having substantially no delay of transmission, based on an actual cuff pulse wave signal SM outputted by the pressure sensor 24. The thus determined cuff volumetric pulse wave PK(t) is free of waveform distortion and accordingly enjoys high accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and estimating the blood pressure of a pregnant patient that modifies the blood pressure estimating algorithm when the patient is pre-eclamptic. The level of carbon monoxide within a patient's bloodstream or exhaled breath can be analyzed to determine whether a pregnant patient is pre-eclamptic. After the patient has been diagnosed as pre-eclamptic, the NIBP monitoring system adjusts its algorithm for estimating the patient's blood pressure to compensate for the physical changes that occur in the patient during pre-eclampsia. The adjusted blood pressure estimates calculated by the NIBP monitoring system can be calculated using different adjustment techniques and methods and are displayed on the NIBP monitor.

Abstract: A wrist-worn apparatus capable of sensing pulsation of blood in the blood tubes of a user's wrist with high accuracy. The apparatus comprises a body of the apparatus, a band to be used to wear the body of the apparatus on the user's wrist, and a fluid-containing pulsation-sensing fluid chamber provided on the user's wrist side of the case. A part of an outer wall that defines the fluid chamber comprises an elastically deformable member that is elastically deformed depending on pulsation of blood transmitted from the band to thereby change the fluid pressure within the fluid chamber. A deformation preventing member is bonded by vulcanization to a part of a side of the deformable member that will come into contact with the user's wrist for preventing the part of the deformable member from being elastically deformed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for automatically calibrating an electronic sphygmomanometer, which pumps air at a predetermined air pressure to a testing electronic sphygmomanometer to simultaneously pressurize a set of pressure sensors set for regular use and at least one other set of pressure sensors being interconnected in the electronic sphygmomanometer to detect whether or not the set of pressure sensors used at regular time is normal. The detected change of pressure during the detection is sent to a control module, and the control module will compare the detected value of each pressure sensor. If the comparison is matched, then it means that the set of pressure sensors used at regular time is normal; if the comparison is mismatched, then the pressure sensors are determined as abnormal and the air valve connected to such pressure sensors is shut, such that when a user uses the electronic sphygmomanometer for the next time, another set of pressure sensors will be started.

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: An apparatus and method for pulse detection based on blood pressure measuring stage is disclosed. Both monitoring of blood pressure and blood vessel pulse are integrated and applied to an apparatus. With the components of the blood pressure monitor, such as an inflatable cuff an air pump and a variable flow valve, with a unique sequential pressure control of reduction and regulation of pressure, not only can blood pressure parameters but also pulse signals under various pressures be measured to provide a complete analysis of blood artery/vessel conditions.

Abstract: The cardiovascular evaluation apparatus of the present invention maintains a pulse wave detection means for detecting pulse wave generated while external pressure is applied to the artery, a pulse wave pattern formulation means for formulating a pulse wave amplitude pattern that indicates the dependency characteristic of the pulse wave amplitude in regard to said external pressure, a pattern shape matching means for matching general polyangular patterns to a pattern portion of said pulse wave amplitude pattern that includes at least a part of the envelope curve where the area of the general pattern, and an index derivation means for deriving a cardiovascular dynamics index related to arterial mechanical characteristics and/or cardiac function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique wave-trigon transformation (WTT) method for performing transformation process over a wave signal. The present invention also provides a pitch detecting method and apparatus for detecting pitch based on the WTT process as well as a sentence detecting method and apparatus for detecting a sentence in a sound signal based on the WTT process. The pitch detecting method and apparatus can effectively detect pitch in a sound signal. In the WTT process, an inputted wave signal (such as a sound signal) is transformed into a series of trigons, and an energy-width spectrum is formed using these trigons. For a sound signal containing voice, the distribution of trigons transformed from the sound signal has a certain pattern. By analyzing the pattern, whether a pitch is contained in the sound signal can be determined. In particular, existence of a pitch can be determined by determining and evaluating the periodicity of trigons in a candidate chained peak in the energy-width spectrum.

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: A method is provided for blood pressure measurement by means of an inflatable cuff (50) applied to a limb of a vertebrate and pneumatically coupled to a first port (112A) and a second port (112B) of a blood pressure measurement apparatus (100). A pump (160) coupled to the second port inflates the cuff pneumatically. During an initial cuff inflation period, a first pressure sensor (180) pneumatically coupled to the first port senses a first pressure and a second pressure sensor (182) pneumatically coupled to the second port senses a second pressure. An analysis module (142) compares the magnitude of the first pressure to the magnitude of the second pressure to determine the relative relationship between the respective magnitudes of the first pressure and the second pressure.

Abstract: A method of operating a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor that includes a blood pressure cuff and a pressure transducer. The method initially inflates the blood pressure cuff to a level above systolic pressure and begins to deflate the pressure cuff using a continuous or linear deflation technique. During the linear deflation of the pressure cuff, the oscillation pulses from the pressure transducer are obtained and compared to predicted pulse estimates. If the obtained oscillation pulses vary from the predicted pulse estimates, the linear deflation technique is interrupted and the pressure cuff is then deflated in a sequence of distinct pressure steps. During each pressure step, the oscillation pulses are obtained and the pressure cuff is not deflated to the next pressure step until the oscillation pulses correspond to each other.

Abstract: A method of vascular testing includes inflating a cuff at a vascular location, controllably deflating the cuff, producing a pressure waveform while deflating the cuff, and producing an output representing a pressure at which blood flow returns, while deflating the cuff, based upon analysis of the pressure waveform. Further, a testing system for measuring vascular pressures according to the present invention includes a pressure applicator, a pressure sensor, and a diagnostic test unit. The pressure applicator is positionable along exterior portions of a human body for dynamically applying pressure to a desired vascular location. The pressure sensor is capable of detecting oscillations in a pressure at the pressure applicator.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for collecting non-invasive blood pressure readings from a patient is provided. A non-invasive blood pressure cuff is arranged to be worn about a wrist of a patient and to be operatively connected to a blood pressure monitor. Communication means are operatively connected to the blood pressure cuff the monitor and arranged to automatically communicate a parameter associated with the cuff to the monitor. The monitor is arranged to automatically adjust blood pressure algorithms based upon the parameter to enhance the accuracy of blood pressure readings.

Abstract: A pressurizing apparatus and method for adjusting an optimal pressurizing rate according to a cuff of various lengths. The pressurizing method measures the pressure values at two reference points and time duration to calculate a pressurizing rate. A control adjustment routine to control an adjustment of the pressurizing rate is decided according the calculated pressurizing rate and at least one control condition. The pump is pressurized according to the adjustment of the pressurizing rate. A diastolic pressure value is measured and the pressurizing of the pump is kept to measure a systolic pressure value. Afterward, the pressurizing is stopped to prevent uncomfortable feeling of user caused by rapidly pressurizing and de-pressurizing process.

Abstract: A method and system for determining pulse rate of a patient are disclosed. The method and system include acquiring measured information for at least one pulse at a pressure step, determining and storing quality values for the at least one pulse at the pressure step, analyzing pulse matching criteria for the pressure step, and determining pulse rate based on the measured information, quality values, and pulse matching criteria.

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: A vascular testing system includes a pressure applicator, a pressure source for generating fluid pressure at the pressure applicator; a variable orifice valve, and a valve control. The variable orifice valve is in fluid communication with the pressure applicator, and has an orifice size capable of dynamically changing. The valve control controls the variable orifice valve as a function of sensed pressure to produce substantially linear changes in pressure at the pressure applicator. Further, a method of vascular pressure measurement according to the present invention includes providing an applied pressure higher than a patient's systolic blood pressure at a vascular location, substantially linearly decreasing the applied pressure at the vascular location, and dynamically detecting vascular pressure oscillations at the vascular location as the applied pressure is decreased.

Abstract: A method of operating a blood pressure measurement system that utilizes a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff. During operation of the NIBP monitor, the blood pressure cuff is initially inflated. During the initial inflation, at least one pressure transducer monitors for the presence of oscillometric pulses and creates an oscillation signal. The oscillation signal is filtered and provided to a central processor. The central processor monitors for oscillometric pulses within the filtered signal and estimates a diastolic pressure and a systolic pressure for the patient. The estimated systolic and diastolic measurements taken during the initial inflation of the blood pressure cuff are used by the central processor to set a target inflation pressure and control the deflation of the blood pressure cuff from the initial inflation pressure.

Abstract: A device for securing a living body by pressing includes a living body pressing air bag, a curled elastic member of an approximately cylindrical shape, disposed on the outside of the living body pressing air bag and changeable in size in a radial direction, and a curled elastic member pressing air bag, disposed on the outside of the curled elastic member and inflated to press an outer peripheral surface of the curled elastic member inward to reduce a diameter of the curled elastic member, to thereby press the living body pressing air bag against the living body via the curled elastic member. This can provide a living body pressing and securing device provided with a novel automatic cuff winding mechanism that can simplify and downsize the winding mechanism, hardly causes skin tension on the body surface, and ensures uniform winding strength over the entire surface of the pressed site.

Abstract: A technique for comparing pressure oscillations obtained during a blood pressure determination wherein two or more sets of matching criteria may be employed. The set of matching criteria to be employed is determined based on the heart rate variability or the presence of heart beat irregularities or arrhythmias as determined by an independent heart monitor, such as an ECG. The selected set of matching criteria may then be employed in determining the acceptability of the time interval between two oscillations and the equivalence of the two oscillations based upon one or more oscillation characteristics, such as peak amplitude. In this manner, non-consecutive oscillations may be matched and used in determining blood pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for making pulse rate and blood pressure determinations is disclosed. The method and system comprise collecting oscillometric blood pressure data from pulses, determining individual quality values for feature measurements of the pulses, obtaining an overall quality assessment based on the individual quality values, repeating the collecting step until overall quality level is satisfied, and determining blood pressure and pulse rate using the individual quality values.

Abstract: An arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus 10 includes an arteriosclerosis evaluating procedure 46 (Steps S7, S8, S9, and S10) that evaluates arteriosclerosis of a living subject, based on a relationship between difference ?P of internal and external pressure of an artery of the subject in the state in which the pressure difference ?P is in equilibrium, and amplitude AM of a pulse wave produced from the artery. Therefore, the present apparatus 10 can as easily as possible evaluate the arteriosclerosis of the subject based on a characteristic curve 58 representing the relationship between in-equilibrium pressure difference ?P and pulse-wave amplitude AM which curve is obtained from a pressing pressure Pc of a cuff 12 wound around a certain portion of the subject, and the pulse wave produced from the artery.

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: An oscillometric, noninvasive blood pressure monitor comprising an inflatable cuff adapted for placement around a body member, a pump for cuff inflation, a pressure transducer connected to the cuff, means for detecting oscillations in arterial pressure occurring during a transition in cuff pressure between a pressure greater than normal systolic pressure and a pressure less than normal diastolic pressure, and a blood pressure measurement circuit which is capable of determining the maximum amplitude (Am) of the oscillations, identifying mean cuff pressure (Pm) as the coincident value of the cuff-pressure signal from the pressure transducer, and determining systolic pressure as a function of both Am and Pm. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the blood pressure monitor has an optical sensor including a light source and photodetector optically coupled to the body member proximate to the cuff.

Abstract: An arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus for evaluating an arteriosclerosis of a living subject based on a form of a pulse wave detected from the subject, the apparatus including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be worn on a body portion of the subject, a cuff-pressure changing device which changes a pressure in the cuff, a cuff-pulse-wave detecting device which detects a cuff pulse wave as a pressure oscillation that is transmitted from the subject to the cuff, and an output device which outputs the cuff pulse wave detected by the cuff-pulse-wave detecting device in a state in which the pressure of the cuff is made higher than a systolic blood pressure of the body portion of the subject by the cuff-pressure changing device.

Abstract: A method for measuring blood pressure and pulse rate with a pump-less mechanical compression apparatus, wherein the pump-less mechanical compression apparatus comprises a compression assembly with a closed system air bag having a fixed air volume fastened on the human body measuring site; a sensor coupled to the air bag for sensing pressure change inside the air bag; a processor for processing the pressure change; and a display. Through the use of the mechanical compression assembly, the pressure inside the air bag can be increased and steadily released to achieve the same measuring effects as traditional sphygmomanometer/sphygmometer. The apparatus invention also comprises a deactivation assembly and an alarm for safety purpose.

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: A dialyzing apparatus includes a dialyzer which removes water from blood of a patient at a water-remove rate during a dialysis operation, a blood-pressure-change-related-information obtaining device which obtains a plurality of sorts of blood-pressure-change-related information each of which is related to a change of a blood pressure of the patient during the dialysis operation, and a water-remove-rate control device which controls the water-remove rate of the dialyzer, based on the plurality of sorts of blood-pressure-change-related information, according to a predetermined control manner.

Abstract: A dialyzing apparatus including a dialyzer which removes water from blood of a patient at a water-remove rate, an arteriosclerosis-related-information obtaining device which obtains arteriosclerosis-related information that is related to a degree of arteriosclerosis of the patient, and a water-remove-rate display device which displays a target value of the water-remove rate based on the arteriosclerosis-related information obtained by the arteriosclerosis-related-information obtaining device.

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: 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 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 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 subject evaluation value measuring apparatus 10, functioning as a cuff volumetric pulse wave obtaining apparatus, includes a pulse wave determining device (i.e., a cuff volumetric pulse wave determining device) 52 that determines, using an inverse transfer function 1H(f), stored in a ROM (i.e., an inverse transfer function memory) 42, that corresponds to a pre-determined transfer function H(f) between input, i.e., pressure pulsation produced in a cuff 20, and output, i.e., pressure pulsation detected by a pressure sensor 24, a no-delay cuff volumetric pulse wave PK(t) having substantially no delay of transmission, based on an actual cuff pulse wave signal SM outputted by the pressure sensor 24. The thus determined cuff volumetric pulse wave PK(t) is free of waveform distortion and accordingly enjoys high accuracy.

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: A method of processing oscillometric blood pressure pulse data taken from a subject is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes determining a pressure pulse period of a cardiac cycle of the subject and identifying a duration of a pressure pulse detected within the pressure pulse period. Then, a duty cycle of the pressure pulse is calculated with respect to the pressure pulse period, wherein the calculated duty cycle is used to determine selected blood pressure parameters.

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: One of pairs of an exciter and a sensor is selected in accordance with the detection signal which is derived from an exciter waveform induced in an artery transmitted therethrough. The pairs of exciters and sensors are arranged on a substrate in various formations. A/D converters are provided to respective detection signals. A frequency of the oscillation signal supplied to the exciter is controlled by various oscillation signal generation circuits. Bandpass filtering for extracting the exciter waveform, low-pass-filtering for extracting a natural blood pressure waveform, phase difference detection processes are provided by a microprocessor, wherein the bandpass filtering and low-pass-filtering processes may be replaced with a bandpass filter and a low pass filter, and their outputs are selected by a switching circuit and supplied to the microprocessor through one a/d converter.

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