Methods and Apparatus for Profiling Cardiovascular Vulnerability to Mental Stress
First Claim
1. An ambulatory method for profiling an individual'"'"'s vulnerability to detrimental effects of mental stress on vascular function comprising:
- monitoring a baseline of mental stress levels and a baseline of vascular function levels in the individual;
monitoring changes in the mental stress levels in the individual during a mental stress challenge;
monitoring changes in the vascular function levels in the individual during the mental stress challenge; and
correlating the changes of mental stress levels with the changes of vascular function levels to profile the individual'"'"'s vulnerability to detrimental effects of mental stress on vascular function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining individual responses to induced and actual mental stress and for identifying individuals susceptible to detrimental effects of mental stress on the cardiovascular system. The subjects may be at risk for chronic effects of mental stress by virtue of synergistic effects of mental stress and cardiovascular (CV) disease risk factors) or may be at risk, or vulnerable to, acute effects of mental stress by virtue of synergistic effects of mental stress and underlying hidden coronary atherosclerosis. The invention further provides methods and apparatus for assessing vascular reactivity in individuals under ambulatory conditions and relating mental stress responses to vascular reactivity.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ambulatory method for profiling an individual'"'"'s vulnerability to detrimental effects of mental stress on vascular function comprising:
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monitoring a baseline of mental stress levels and a baseline of vascular function levels in the individual; monitoring changes in the mental stress levels in the individual during a mental stress challenge; monitoring changes in the vascular function levels in the individual during the mental stress challenge; and correlating the changes of mental stress levels with the changes of vascular function levels to profile the individual'"'"'s vulnerability to detrimental effects of mental stress on vascular function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. An ambulatory device capable of monitoring an indicator of mental stress and an indicator of vascular function.
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11. An ambulatory device for measuring mental stress comprising:
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at least one finger mounted blood flow monitor in electrical communication with a control unit; and at least one palm mounted blood flow monitor in electrical communication with the control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to continuously measure and record data from both finger and palm mounted blood flow monitors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An ambulatory device for measuring reactive hyperemia comprising:
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a ring dimensioned to be worn on a finger, the ring including a band that can be controllably tightened on the finger thereby restricting an arterial flow distal to the ring; a release for relieving the restriction of the band thereby restoring arterial flow distal to the ring; and a sensor for measuring blood flow to a fingertip distal to the cuff. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification