Ring-shaped cuff for measurement of blood pressure

• US 20050171445A1
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pharmasmart International LLC
• Original Assignee: Pharmasmart LLC
• Inventors: Patterson, Paul, Millay, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,427,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

A closed blood pressure cuff including a ring-shaped inflatable bladder having an inner portion for making direct contact with a user'"'"'s arm and an outer portion having a fixed circumference outside the inner portion. The bladder is formed of non-distensible material, preferably by joining a tubular starting element. The inner portion of the bladder is not constrained during inflation and thus can readily conform to a subject'"'"'s limb, the outer portion accommodating an upper limit of arm circumference within the cuff. The cuff may include a stiffener attached to the outer portion of the bladder to automatically adjust the shape of the bladder during inflation. The stiffener may be in the form of a continuous layer or may comprise a plurality of axial ribs, allowing the cuff to be folded when not in use. The cuff may be generally cylindrical or may be tapered.

Claims

1. A closed cuff for use in inferential measurement of animal arterial blood pressures, comprising:

an inflatable ring-shaped bladder having an inner portion and an outer portion,

wherein said bladder is formed from an air-impermeable, non-distensible material,

wherein said bladder is in direct contact with a user'"'"'s extremity when said cuff is in use, and

wherein said bladder is unconstrained axially of said ring shape during inflation thereof.

2. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bladder is formed by joining the ends of a tubular starting element.

3. A cuff in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tubular starting element is seamless.

4. A cuff in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tubular starting element includes a longitudinal seam.

5. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one seam in said bladder axially directed of said ring shape and at least partially attaching said inner and outer portions together.

6. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 wherein a stiffener is attached to said outer portion of said bladder.

7. A cuff in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stiffener is disposed outside of said bladder.

8. A cuff in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stiffener is disposed within said bladder.

9. A cuff in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stiffener includes a continuous element.

10. A cuff in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stiffener includes a plurality of stiff ribs.

11. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 wherein the form of said ring-shaped bladder is selected from the group consisting of cylindrical and frusto-conical.

12. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means connected to said ring-shaped bladder for inflating and deflating said bladder.

13. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bladder is formed from material including polyurethane-coated nylon mesh.

14. A cuff in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cuff is suitable for use in a device selected from the group consisting of automated public use measurement device having a fixed closed cuff, automated device allowing for a selection of cuffs by an operator, and manual device allowing for a selection of cuffs by an operator.

15. An automated blood pressure measurement machine, comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) an inflatable closed cuff including a ring-shaped bladder having an inner portion and an outer portion,

wherein said bladder is formed from an air-impermeable, non-distensible material,

wherein said bladder is in direct contact with a user'"'"'s extremity when said cuff is in use, and

wherein said bladder is unconstrained axially of said ring shape during inflation thereof.