Patent · US Expired

Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring method and apparatus

US4967756A · kind A · utility

119Cited by
11References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 1988
Grant dateNov 6, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0225
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Improved ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring and recording apparatus and method are described. The apparatus uses an auscultatory transducer connected to a microprocessor-based circuit for sensing, validating and recording systolic and diastolic pressure in the cuff-surrounded limb of the patient, and for measuring heart rate. The improved method calculates, and records in the same blood pressure and heart rate data record, an alphanumeric figure of merit, or alternatively a numeric quality index, based upon Korotkoff sound frequency and amplitude criteria. In another improved method, the maximum pressure to which the cuff is pressurized for each measurement is made to track the individual patient's systolic blood pressure to ensure reliable blood pressure readings without unneccessary constriction of the patient's limb.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.