Method and apparatus for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient
First Claim
1. A method for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, comprising:
- applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude arterial blood flow therein;
maintaining said occluding pressure for a predetermined time period;
removing said occluding pressure after the elapse of said predetermined time period to restore arterial blood flow;
monitoring a digit of said arm or leg for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of said occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient;
and utilizing any detected changes in said peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient, and particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition.
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Accused Products
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. Particularly important advantages are provided when the occluding cuff is applied to the digit of the patient receiving the monitoring digit-probe, on the proximal side thereof with respect to the patient'"'"'s heart, and also when a reference digit-probe is applied to another digit, not influenced by the occluding pressure, to compensate for shifts inherent to vascular beds.
37 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, comprising:
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applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude arterial blood flow therein;
maintaining said occluding pressure for a predetermined time period;
removing said occluding pressure after the elapse of said predetermined time period to restore arterial blood flow;
monitoring a digit of said arm or leg for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of said occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient;
and utilizing any detected changes in said peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient, and particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Apparatus for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, comprising:
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an occluding cuff for applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude blood flow therein for a predetermined time period;
a monitoring digit-probe for monitoring a digit of said arm or leg for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of said occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient;
and a processor for utilizing any detected changes in said peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient, and particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification