ELECTRO PNEUMATIC INTERFACE FOR BLOOD PRESSURE SYSTEM

• US 20100016737A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Buchanan, Joseph D., Whitaker, Tyson B., Martin, Scott A., Kinsley, Matthew J., Lane, John A., Grant, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/492
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0225 the pressure being controlled by electric signals, e.g. derived from Korotkoff sounds

Abstract

A blood pressure system that includes a compact monitor housing that contains a pneumatic circuit and an electrical circuit and a processor for inflating and deflating a cuff to provide blood pressure related data. A split connector allows the housing to interface both pneumatically and electronically with one or more independent cuffs and/or with one or more host stations. Each host station contains a dependent cuff and further electrical components to expand and enhance the systems output of related blood pressure data that is generated by either the independent or dependent cuffs.

Claims

1. A blood pressure system that includes:

a compact housing that contains a pneumatic circuit that includes a pump for inflating a blood pressure cuff, a valve for deflating said cuff, a pressure sensor for providing cuff pressure data and an electrical circuit having a control means for programming said pneumatic circuit and for processing cuff pressure data;

said housing further including a display means for visually presenting said processed data; and

a split connector having a first receptor that is mounted upon said housing that is adapted to releasably close with a second receptor that is mounted upon one or more independent blood pressure cuffs or alternatively one or more host stations each of which contains a dedicated blood pressure cuff to establish a hoseless connection between said pneumatic circuit and said one or more independent cuffs and said one or more host stations and a wireless electrical connection between said electrical circuit and said one or more host stations.

2. The blood pressure system of claim 1, wherein said split connector also establishes a wireless electrical connection between said electrical circuit and said one or more independent cuffs when said split connector is closed.

3. The blood pressure system of claim 2, wherein said housing further contains a rechargeable battery for providing power to electrical components contained in said housing.

4. The blood pressure system of claim 2, wherein said control means is a microprocessor that contains storage means for storing blood pressure related data.

5. The blood pressure system of claim 3, wherein said host station further includes means for recharging said rechargeable battery when said split connector is closed.

6. The blood pressure system of claim 5, wherein said host station contains additional processing means for further storing and processing blood pressure related data from said microprocessor when said split connector is closed.

7. The blood pressure system of claim 6, wherein said host station further includes an enlarged display for visually presenting blood pressure related data.

8. The blood pressure system of claim 7, wherein said host station further includes a bi-directional communication unit for exchanging blood pressure related data with at least one other station.

9. The blood pressure system of claim 2, wherein said one or more independent cuffs each contain a detecting means for providing an electrical signal to said control means which identifies the size of each cuff.

10. The blood pressure system of claim 9, wherein said detecting means is a resistor that is mounted in each cuff.

11. The blood pressure system of claim 2, wherein said one or more independent cuffs each contain an electronically readable chip that contains information for identifying said cuff.

12. The blood pressure system of claim 2, wherein said hoseless pneumatic connection further includes a male member mounted in one receptor that mates with a female member mounted in said other receptor to provide a leak-tight joint between sections when said sections are brought together at closure.

13. The blood pressure system of claim 12, wherein said wireless electrical connection includes one or more electrical contacts in one of said receptors that ride in sliding contact with one or more electrical contacts in said other receptor when the two receptors are brought together at closure.

14. The blood pressure system of claim 13, wherein said male member includes a cylindrical body and said female member includes a circular port for slidable receiving said male member therein.

15. The blood pressure system of claim 14, wherein said cylindrical body further includes a circular bead that encircles said body and said circular port includes a circular groove therein into which said bead is snap fitted when said receptors are brought together at closure so that said housing can rotate about the axis of said connector means without breaking said leak-tight joint.

16. The blood pressure system of claim 15, that includes a first pair of circular contacts that encircle one of said members and a second pair of contact pads mounted adjacent to other of said members that ride in sliding contact with said first pair of contacts as the housing is rotated about the axis of the connector means.