Apparatus and method for non-invasively monitoring a subject's arterial blood pressure
US6176831A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/022
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for non-invasively monitoring a subject's blood pressure, in which a pressure sensor assembly that includes a pressure transducer is compressed against tissue overlying an artery, with sufficient force to compress the artery. A motor first servo control system optimizes the amount of artery compression, which occurs at a mean transmural pressure of about zero, by modulating one side of a lever arm compressing the assembly against the tissue, creating a pressure signal indicative of transmural pressure. Since different pressure effects are realized according to the amount of artery compression, an appropriate control signal can be produced that provides for a second motor to adjust the other side of the lever arm to provide the optimum compression of the assembly into the tissue overlying the artery. The apparatus is optimally positioned over an artery by including an ultrasonic blood flow sensor configured to sense the flow of blood under the pressure transducer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.