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: Apparatus is provided for protecting a patient's limb from tourniquet-related injury, comprising: a tourniquet cuff having a length sufficient for encircling a limb protection sleeve applied to a limb at a location having a limb circumference of not less than a predetermined minimum limb circumference and not more than a predetermined maximum limb circumference; limb protection sleeve adapted for applying to the limb at the location, wherein the sleeve has a tubular shape and a tubular circumference predetermined to be less than the predetermined minimum and wherein the sleeve is formed to allow elastic stretching of the tubular shape sufficient to increase the tubular circumference to be substantially equivalent to the limb circumference at the location when the sleeve is applied to the limb, thereby applying a pressure to the limb that is greater than a predetermined minimum pressure and less than a predetermined maximum pressure; and identification means perceptible to a user for providing an indication to

Abstract: When a predetermined condition for measurement is selected from a plurality of conditions for measurement by operating one of measurement switches before measuring the blood pressure, a pressure begins to be applied to a bladder in response to the selection and the measurement of the blood pressure starts. The measured data of the blood pressure and the selected condition for measurement are linked to each other and stored in a memory. Because the measurement of the blood pressure starts upon selection of the predetermined condition by operating one of the measurement switches, one operation can serve both as switching to instruct the starting of the measurement and selecting the predetermined condition for measurement. Thus, an additional operation for inputting a condition for measurement is not necessary, and this makes it possible to prevent forgetting to input or incorrectly inputting a condition for measurement from occurring.

Abstract: Inflatable blood pressure cuff assemblies include an inflatable elongate cuff member having opposing long edges and opposing short edge portions with a fluid chamber therein and a resilient support sleeve with at least one rib support member, the sleeve attached to a respective one of the opposing short edge portions of the inflatable elongate cuff member. The sleeve may be configured with a sensor chamber and a cable routing channel. Related systems and methods of fabricating cuff assemblies and resilient support sleeves are also described.

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: 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: 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 apparatus for assessing cardiovascular status of a mammal comprises a system for locally applying a pressure to an artery capable of restricting blood flow through said artery, a wideband external pulse transducer having an output and situated to measure suprasystolic signals proximate to said artery, and a computing device receiving said output for calculating vascular compliance values. The method described is particularly useful for determining cardiac output, assessing whether a pregnant female has preeclampsia or a patient has cardiac insufficiency, or assessing cardiac arrhythmias.

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 dialyzing apparatus includes a dialyzer which removes water from blood of a patient at a pre-set water-remove rate, an autonomic-nerve-activity-related-information obtaining device which obtains autonomic-nerve-activity-related information that is related to an activity of an autonomic nerve of the patient, and a water-remove-rate display device which displays a target water-remove rate based on the autonomic-nerve-activity-related information obtained by the autonomic-nerve-activity related-information obtaining device.

Abstract: A method for measuring blood pressure during a limited number of blood pressure cycles at an area overlying an artery of a living subject, includes applying a pressure (P) to the artery for occluding the artery in response to a pressure signal. Subsequently the pressure is released to re-open the artery in response to a pressure release signal. A delay time is computed, by comparing a first time duration with a second time duration. The delay time is from a reference point in time after which a next pressure release signal is to be supplied to a device for applying a pressure. A pressure to be applied to the artery in a next measuring cycle is computed. Subsequently a pressure signal and a pressure release signal corresponding to the computed pressure and delay time are supplied to the device for applying a pressure.

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: 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: A method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure by the oscillometric technique. The method incorporates variable PIP's. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a value for the peak amplitude Amax of an oscillometric envelope; determining a cuff pressure, CP, which corresponds in time with Amax, this pressure representing the MAP of the subject; computing a variable value PIPSBP as a function of MAP; performing the calculation Asbp=Amax*PIPSBP to determine a systolic amplitude value Asbp along the oscillometric envelope; and determining the cuff pressure C which corresponds in time to Asbp, this value representing the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the subject. PIP can be calculated using a piece-wise linear, polynomial, exponential or other function.

Abstract: An augmentation-index determining apparatus, including a cuff, a cuff-pressure changing device which changes a pressing pressure of the cuff, a pulse-wave extracting device which extracts a pulse wave from the cuff, a peak-occurrence-time determining device for determining, based on a high-cuff-pressure pulse wave which is extracted by the pulse-wave extracting device when the cuff-pressure changing device makes the pressing pressure of the cuff higher than a systolic blood pressure of a subject, a time of occurrence of a peak point of an incident-wave component of the high-cuff-pressure pulse and a time of occurrence of a peak point of a reflected-wave component of the high-cuff-pressure pulse wave, and an augmentation-index determining device for determining, based on the respective times of occurrence of the respective peak points of the incident-wave and reflected-wave components of the high-cuff-pressure pulse, respective times of occurrence of respective peak points of incident-wave and reflected-wave c

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring systolic and diastolic 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 a first acoustic sensor, or array of sensors, placed on the patient's skin over the brachial artery. A second 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 signal of the first acoustic sensor is then processed using an adaptive interferer canceller algorithm with the signal of the second acoustic sensor as interferer.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring a physiological parameter of a patient, such as blood pressure, takes a sequence consisting of a predetermined number of individual measurements. The apparatus computes a best estimate of the physiological parameter from values obtained in two or more of the measurements. The apparatus automatically takes a sequence of measurements and then stops. The apparatus can operate unattended so that it is not necessary for a physician or other health care worker to be present while measurements are being made. The use of the invention to measure blood pressure of a patient reduces the effect of “white coat” hypertension on the best estimate. Preferred embodiments of the apparatus ignore results of a first measurement in the sequence. The patient is already familiar with the apparatus when subsequent measurements are taken. This further reduces the possibility that the patient's reaction to the process of measurement will affect the results of the measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining information relating to a velocity at which a pulse wave propagates in a living subject, the apparatus including a first inflatable cuff and a second inflatable cuff which are adapted to be worn on two different portions of the subject, respectively, at least one cuff-pulse-wave detecting device which detects the pulse wave occurring to each of the first and second cuffs worn on the two different portions of the subject, and a velocity-relating-information obtaining device which obtains the information relating to the velocity, based on a time difference between a first time when the cuff-pulse-wave detecting device detects the pulse wave occurring to the first cuff, and a second time when the cuff-pulse-wave detecting device detects the pulse wave occurring to the second cuff.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including in inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff while a pressure in the cuff is changed, a blood-pressure determining device for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of respective amplitudes of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave, a display device which has a two-dimensional screen consisting of picture elements, and an amplitude displaying device for successively displaying, on the two-dimensional screen of the display device and while the pressure of the cuff is changed, the amplitude of each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave, such that the amplitude of the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave is comparable with at least one prior amplitude of at least one prior heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure by the oscillometric technique. The method incorporates variable PIP's. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a value for the peak amplitude Amax of an oscillometric envelope; determining a cuff pressure, CP, which corresponds in time with Amax, this pressure representing the MAP of the subject; computing a variable value PIPSBP as a function of MAP; performing the calculation Asbp=Amax*PIPSBP to determine a systolic amplitude value Asbp along the oscillometric envelope; and determining the cuff pressure C which corresponds in time to Asbp, this value representing the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the subject. PIP can be calculated using a piece-wise linear, polynomial, exponential or other function.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a superior-and-inferior-limb blood-pressure index of a living subject, including an inferior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device which includes an inferior-limb cuff adapted to be wound around an inferior limb of the subject and which measures an inferior-limb blood pressure of the inferior limb, a superior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device which includes a superior-limb cuff adapted to be wound around a superior limb of the subject and which measures a superior-limb blood pressure of the superior limb, a blood-pressure-index determining device for determining the superior-and-inferior-limb blood-pressure index, based on the inferior-limb blood pressure measured by the inferior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device and the superior-limb blood pressure measured by the superior-limb-blood-pressure measuring device, an inferior-limb-pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on an inferior limb of the subject and which detects an inferior-limb pulse wave from the inferi

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an inferior-and-superior-limb blood-pressure index of a living subject, including an inferior-limb blood-pressure measuring device, a superior-limb blood-pressure measuring device, an index determining means for determining the inferior-and-superior-limb blood-pressure index, based on a systolic blood pressure of an inferior limb, measured by the inferior-limb blood-pressure measuring device and a systolic blood pressure of a superior limb, measured by the superior-limb blood-pressure measuring device, an estimated-inferior-limb-systolic-blood-pressure determining means for determining an estimated systolic blood pressure of the inferior limb, an estimated-superior-limb-systolic-blood-pressure determining means for determining an estimated systolic blood pressure of the superior limb, and a cuff-pressure control means for controlling at least one of respective pressures of the inferior-limb cuff and the superior-limb cuff, such that when the respective pressures of an inferior-limb

Abstract: A system (1) for measuring blood pressure during a limited number of blood pressure cycles at an area (2) overlying an artery (3) of a living subject, comprising a mechanism (4) for applying a pressure (P) to the artery for occluding artery in response to a pressure signal (Uprise), and for subsequently releasing said pressure to re-open artery in response to a pressure release signal (Uprelease), and a mechanism (11) for computing, by comparing a first time duration (&Dgr;T1) with a second time duration (&Dgr;T2), a delay time (Tdelay1) from a reference point in time after which a next pressure release signal is to be supplied to a mechanism (4) for applying a pressure, and for computing a pressure (P2) to be applied to artery in a next measuring cycle, and for supplying subsequently a pressure signal (Uprise) and a pressure release signal (Uprelease) corresponding to computed pressure (P2) and delay time (Tdelay1) to a mechanism (4) for applying a pressure.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device and associated operating method utilize a measurement algorithm based on a plurality of measurements, supplying a unique ability to increase diagnostic and analytical success in detection. In an illustrative implementation, three measurement techniques are used in combination to improve overall measurement accuracy. A first of the three techniques is an ascultatory technique. A sound measurement acquired from a microphone located in the measurement cuff detects start and end Korotkoff sounds using a combination of filters. The auscultatory technique is a conventional method that is recommended by the American Heart Association and is similar to manual techniques used by a nurse or technician. The auscultatory technique and associated filtering techniques are well known by those having ordinary skill in the art. A second technique is an oscillometric technique that is commonly found in many low-cost blood pressure measurement devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a systolic blood pressure of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a body portion of the subject and includes a first inflatable bag which is inflatable to press an artery of the body portion, a first amplitude determining device for determining a first amplitude of each of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a first pulse wave which is produced in the first inflatable bag when a pressure in the first bag is changed, a pulse-wave detecting device which detects a second pulse wave which propagates from the artery to a downstream-side portion of the cuff as seen in a blood-flow direction in which blood flows in the artery, a second amplitude determining device for determining a second amplitude of each of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the second pulse wave which is detected by the pulse-wave detecting device when the pressure of the first inflatable bag is changed, a ratio calculating device for calculating a rat

Abstract: A blood-pressure monitoring apparatus for use with a dialyzing device, including a blood-pressure-related-information obtaining device which iteratively obtains, from a patient who is undergoing a dialysis operation of the dialyzing device, a piece of blood-pressure-related information that can change in relation with a blood pressure of the patient, a change-value determining device for determining a change value representing a change of each piece of blood-pressure-related information iteratively obtained by the blood-pressure-related-information obtaining device, a memory device which stores, for the patient, a plurality of prescribed threshold values corresponding to a plurality of prescribed periods of an entire duration of the dialysis operation, at least one of the threshold values that corresponds to at least one of the prescribed periods being smaller than the other threshold values, the blood pressure of the patient being more likely to lower during the one period of the entire duration, than during

Abstract: A blood-circulation monitor including a heartbeat-synchronous-wave sensor, a first judging device for judging whether an arrhythmia has occurred to a living subject, based on a heartbeat-synchronous wave detected by the sensor, a first determining device including a cuff and determining a first blood pressure of the subject based on a first pulse wave produced in the cuff, an information obtaining device for iteratively obtaining a piece of blood-pressure-relating information which changes in relation with blood pressure of the subject, a relationship determining device for determining a relationship between blood pressure and blood-pressure-relating information, a second determining device for iteratively determining, according to the relationship, a second blood pressure of the subject based on each of the pieces of blood-pressure-relating information, a calculating device for calculating a change value of the second blood pressure values, and a second judging device for judging that the condition of blood

Abstract: In a device or in a method for oscillometric measurement of the blood pressure, the pulse time differences are determined associated with the measurement of the blood pressure. Subsequent pulse time differences are stored in a storing unit (15). A distribution of pulse time differences is calculated in a calculating unit (16) and compared in a comparing unit (17) with predetermined reference values. If the distribution or the values of pulse time differences exceed a predetermined amount, an indication means (19) is activated which indicates existence of arrhythmic activities.

Abstract: Blood pressure of an human being is read by a process that places a cuff around a portion of the human being's body. The cuff is inflated to a predefined pressure which occludes the flood of blood and then the cuff is deflated in a controlled manner. At a plurality of deflation pressure levels, pressure pulses that occur in the cuff are integrated to produce a plurality of integral values. A diastolic pressure of the human being is derived in response to the deflation pressure level at which occurred the integral value that is greatest in magnitude.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure. Both include a first sensor for detecting an instantaneous pulse rate, an inflatable cuff, and a second sensor to monitoring the pressure within the cuff. The cuff sensor adapted to detect oscillometric complexes associated with a patient's pulse. Both the apparatus and the method provide for detecting arrhythmia from the patient's instantaneous pulse rate. A characteristic of the oscillometric complexes is measured, and match determination means provided for determining whether at least two adjacent oscillometric complexes are equivalent. A first set matching criteria are used under normal conditions. A second set of matching criteria are used when arrhythmia are detected. A controller is provided for controlling the pressure within the cuff. At the outset of a blood pressure measurement the cuff is inflated to a pressure greater than the patient's systolic pressure.

Abstract: An automated sphygmomanometer which utilizes quality algorithms to stop any further analysis at various points during a blood pressure determination because of corrupted data. If the data is so corrupted that giving blood pressure numbers is inappropriate, this is recognized and the determination stopped. The quality algorithms make a decision to get more data with the hope of improving the blood pressure estimation. The request for data occurs both before and/or after a curve fitting process, if such a process is utilized. Some information is also provided to the cuff pressure control function about which pressure levels would be best for gathering the additional data. The quality algorithms are also used to make a decision as to whether it is appropriate to publish the blood pressure values obtained. Control parameters (weights) may be set within the blood pressure algorithm to help with other aspects of the NIBP algorithm and improve the quality of the final published numbers.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a systolic blood pressure of a living subject, including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a body portion of the subject and includes a first inflatable bag which is inflatable to press an artery of the body portion, a first amplitude determining device for determining a first amplitude of each of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a first pulse wave which is produced in the first inflatable bag when a pressure in the first bag is changed, a pulse-wave detecting device which detects a second pulse wave which propagates from the artery to a downstream-side portion of the cuff as seen in a blood-flow direction in which blood flows in the artery, a second amplitude determining device for determining a second amplitude of each of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the second pulse wave which is detected by the pulse-wave detecting device when the pressure of the first inflatable bag is changed, a ratio calculating device for calculating a rat

Abstract: In a self-service health parameter measuring apparatus and method, a person's elbow is placed at a spatial reference point, and means surrounding a user's forearm locate an infrared body fat apparatus measurement point at a substantially fixed distance from the spatial reference point. Motor drive means adjustably tighten or loosen a cuff around an upper arm so that measurements on each user are made at substantially the same pressure of the measuring apparatus against a forearm irrespective of the size of the arm. In a preferred form, the preselected measurement pressure is achieved by inflating the cuff to a maximum level, and allowing deflation. Measurement is made when a lower, second preselected level is reached. Blood pressure is also measured in connection with the inflation and deflation operation. Further health parameters may be measured.

Abstract: In a device or in a method for oscillometric measurement of the blood pressure, the pulse time differences are determined associated with the measurement of the blood pressure. Subsequent pulse time differences are stored in a storing unit (15). A distribution of pulse time differences is calculated in a calculating unit (16) and compared in a comparing unit (17) with predetermined reference values. If the distribution or the values of pulse time differences exceed a predetermined amount, an indication means (19) is activated which indicates existence of arrhythmic activities.

Abstract: An electronic sphygmomanometer starts from pressurization and then enters a decompression process. When measurement of blood pressure starts, only a standard pressure release rate voltage is applied to a valve from a standard pressure release rate voltage supply circuit through a decompression control circuit. The valve allows air to be discharged slowly at the standard pressure release rate. If the pressure release rate should be increased for decompression, target pressure release rate acceleration value voltage according to the position of a dial is supplied from an external control signal supply unit. The standard pressure release rate voltage is added to the target voltage and the resultant voltage is supplied to the valve via the decompression control circuit. The valve increases the pressure release rate by the amount corresponding to the external control signal voltage.

Abstract: An occlusive cuff is placed around a limb (e.g. an arm) of a patient. A fluid, such as air, is pumped into the cuff, and the pressure in the cuff is measured. The pressure variation in the cuff with respect to time is caused by the pump and expansion/contraction of the arm caused by blood being pumped therethrough by the patient's heart. This variation in pressure is used to calculate systolic and diastolic pressure, artery lumen area compliance and artery volume compliance, artery lumen area, and the blood flow rate through the patient's arteries (e.g. the brachial artery for the case of the patient's arm, or the femoral artery or the case of the patient's leg).

Abstract: An apparatus (21) which measures the arterial blood pressure at the human wrist (1) is provided with a cuff (22) having a shape adapted to be placed in a predetermined position around the wrist (1). The cuff (22) has one or two inflatable measuring bladders (23a, 23b). The bladders (23a, 23b) are arranged and have a size in such a way that each bladder (23a, 23b) covers only one of either the radial (2) and the ulnar (3) artery.

Abstract: A finger holder for attaching to the patient's finger and an optical measurement device utilizing the finger holder for performing non-invasive measurements of blood-related signals are presented. The finger holder comprises a measuring unit located at a first location of the finger and a pressurizing assembly capable of applying desired over-systolic pressure to a second location on the patient's finger upstream of the first location with respect to a normal blood flow direction. The measuring unit is supported on a clip member that secures the fingertip between the clip's legs. A substantially rigid connector connects the clip member and the pressurizing assembly, wherein the connector engages the finger along its middle phalanx and proximal intephalangeal joint, thereby preventing it from folding during the measurements.

Abstract: Fuzzy logic rules are applied to a method for indirectly measuring a physical signal to be monitored which would be difficult to directly measure. The measuring method comprises the steps of obtaining a derived physical signal from the physical signal to be monitored and measuring a value of the derived physical signal and its variations over time at suitably selected check points. A first set of fuzzy logic rules are applied to ascertain the presence or absence of an index signal adapted to mark at least first, second and third operational zones of the derived physical signal. Only the second operational zone is characterized by the presence of the index signal. First and second significant values of the physical signal to be monitored are measured as start and end values, respectively, of the second operational zone. An apparatus for indirectly measuring a physical signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring a patient's blood pressure involves using a patient-applied cuff operably connected to an electronically controlled blood pressure monitor that includes a pump. The method includes controlling pressure in the cuff by inflating the cuff to a suprasystolic pressure, and step-wise deflating of the cuff to acquire blood-pressure data from the patient. The improvement includes using pulse-width modulation data to enhance control of cuff pressure.

Abstract: A pulse wave propagation time is counted constantly. Not only it is judged whether or not a pulse wave propagation time change .DELTA.T exceeds a pulse wave propagation time change threshold .DELTA.Ts, but also it is judged whether or not cardiovascular dynamic changes .DELTA.HR, r.sub.1, r.sub.2 exceed thresholds thereof .DELTA.HRs, r.sub.1 s, r.sub.2 s, whereby a sudden turn for the worse in the blood pressure fluctuation of a subject is monitored. If any one of the changes exceeds the threshold thereof, a blood pressure measurement using a cuff 2 is made on the subject.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus including an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a body portion of a living subject, an air pump which supplies a pressurized air to the cuff to inflate the cuff and thereby increase an air pressure in the cuff, so that the cuff presses the body portion of the subject, an air tank which is connected to the air pump, an air restrictor which is provided between the air tank and the cuff, a deflation-control valve which is provided between the restrictor and the cuff to control an amount of discharging of the pressurized air from the cuff and thereby control deflation of the cuff, a control device which controls the air pump to supply the pressurized air to the cuff while controlling the deflation-control valve to discharge a controlled amount of the pressurized air therethrough from the cuff, so as to increase the pressure of the cuff linearly at a predetermined first rate, and a measuring device which measures at least one blood pressure value of the subject

Abstract: An oscillometric type electronic sphygmomanometer for determining the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure on the basis of a peak formed by the variance in the pulse wave amplitude, wherein the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure are provisionally determined on the basis of the curve of the varying pulse wave amplitude which forms the first peak, when the provisionally determined diastolic blood pressure is higher than a preset value, the pulse wave amplitude continues to be detected and monitored until the cuff pressure decreases below the provisionally determined diastolic blood pressure by a predetermined pressure, and when the pulse wave amplitude detected while being monitored is equal to or higher than the said maximum pulse wave amplitude value, the pulse wave amplitude continues to be further detected so as for a new maximum pulse wave amplitude to be obtained, thereby determining at least the diastolic blood pressure on the basis of the curve of the varying pulse wave amplitude, which has

Abstract: A cardiovascular system observation method using a computer processor on the basis of pulse wave amplitude data obtained from a patient in a compressed state which changes, said method comprising: process steps for forming measurement patterns expressing the transition of pulse wave amplitude values by smoothing minute fluctuations of said pulse wave amplitude data and normalizing the pulse wave amplitude values and pulse wave intervals of said pulse wave amplitude data; process steps for extracting the features of the measurement patterns; and process steps for judging the pattern shape to judge reference pattern groups to which said measurement pattern belongs by using said features.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitor apparatus for monitoring a blood pressure of a living subject, by changing a pressing pressure of an inflatable cuff being wound around a body portion of a living subject, including a cuff-pressure regulating device which iteratively changes the pressure of the cuff within a predetermined range whose upper limit is lower than a mean blood pressure of the subject, a pulse-wave sensor which detects an amplitude of each of a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a pulse wave which is produced in the cuff when the pressure of the cuff is changed within the predetermined range by the regulating device, a characteristic determining device for determining a characteristic value relating to an envelope of the pulse amplitudes detected by the pulse-wave sensor during each of the iterative cuff-pressure changes within the predetermined range, and a identifying device for identifying an abnormal decrease of the blood pressure of the subject based on the characteristic value determined by

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: An apparatus for measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, including a blood pressure measuring device which measures a blood pressure value of the subject, a first memory which stores a plurality of blood pressure values measured by the blood pressure measuring device, in an order of measurement of the blood pressure values, a pulse wave detecting device which detects a pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of the subject in synchronism with heartbeat of the subject while each of the blood pressure values is measured by the blood pressure measuring device, a second memory which stores a waveform of the pulse wave detected by the pulse wave detecting device, in the order, the second memory storing the respective waveforms of the pulse waves each of which is detected by the pulse wave detecting device while a corresponding one of the blood pressure values is measured by the blood pressure measuring device, and an output device which outputs the blood pressure values stored in the first memory, in t

Abstract: A physical information monitor system comprising: (a) physical information obtaining means for successively obtaining physical information values of a living subject; (b) moving average calculating means for continuously calculating a moving average of the physical information values successively obtained by the physical information obtaining means; (c) reference range determining means for determining a reference range on the basis of the moving average calculated by the moving average calculating means; and (d) abnormality determining means for determining whether one of the physical information values which is currently obtained by the physical information obtaining means is abnormal, the abnormality determining means generating an abnormality signal when the currently obtained physical information value is outside the reference range.