BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090318818A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitaker, Tyson B., Martin, Scott A., Kinsley, Matthew J., Lane, John A., Grant, Thomas J., Meyer, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US12/142,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/495
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0225 the pressure being controlled by electric signals, e.g. derived from Korotkoff sounds

Abstract

A blood pressure monitoring system that includes a compact housing that contains a pneumatic circuit that is removably attached to an inflatable cuff by a hoseless connector so that the cuff can be inflated and deflated to provide blood pressure readings that are detected by a pressure sensor. A controller is also contained in the housing which controls the circuit activities and records blood pressure related data. The controller is linked via a bidirectional communication system with a processor that is contained in a host station which programs the controller and collects and records blood pressure related data. The communication system also allows the monitoring system to communicate over a wider network with other remote stations.

Claims

1. A non-invasive blood pressure system that includes:

a compact housing that contains a pneumatic circuit for inflating and deflating a blood pressure cuff and a pressure sensor for reading said cuff pressure and providing an output signal indicative of said cuff pressure;

a hoseless connector for removably attaching said pneumatic circuit to said cuff whereby cuff can be inflated and deflated to provide cuff pressure readings;

a programmable controller contained in said housing for controlling the components of said pneumatic circuit to provide blood pressure readings;

a remote host station that contains a processor for programming said controller and processing said cuff pressure readings; and

a bi-directional wireless communication unit for linking said processor with said controller and said pressure sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said hoseless connector includes a male member that is releasably coupled to a female member wherein one of said members is secured to said housing and the other of said members is secured to said cuff.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said pneumatic circuit contains a pump and a discharge valve that are coupled to the hoseless connector along with said pressure sensor by a common flow line.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said processor contains a memory for storing said pressure readings.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing further contains a battery for powering said pneumatic circuit components and said pressure sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless bi-directional unit contains further network means for broadcasting processed pressure related data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said host station contains a readout for visually displaying processed pressure related data.

3. The system of claim 3, wherein said female member is secured to said housing and said male member is secured to said cuff.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said male member is rotatably contained within said female member at closure of said connector.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said female member contains a circular opening and said male member contains a cylindrical body.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said circular opening of said female member contains a circular groove and said body of said male member contains a circular bead that snaps into said groove at closure.

12. A method of monitoring a patients blood pressure that includes the steps of:

applying an inflatable blood pressure cuff to a patients limb;

establishing a hoseless connection between a said cuff and a pneumatic circuit for inflating and deflating said cuff;

measuring said cuffs pressure during an inflation and deflation cycle;

wirelessly communicating said pressure measurements to a remote host station; and

processing said measurements at said remote station.

13. The method of claim 12, that includes the further step of storing said processed measurements at said remote station.

14. The method of claim 13 that includes the further step of broadcasting said pressure measurements to one or more further remote stations.

15. The method of claim 12, that includes the further step of visually displaying said measurement at said host station.