DEVICE FOR MEASURING VENO CAPILLARY FILLING TIME

• US 3,698,382 A
• Filed: 10/15/1970
• Issued: 10/17/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William L. Howell
• Original Assignee: William L. Howell
• Inventors: Howell, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,845
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2R,2A,2L,2S,2.5A,2.5E,2.5F,2.5P,2.5V 250/217,227,239
• US Class Current: 600/481
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically applying intermittent and uniform pressure to the skin of a patient at predetermined and variable time intervals, in order to force blood from the blood vessels subjacent to the skin area to which pressure is applied, and further apparatus for measuring the rate of return of the blood into the collapsed blood vessels upon release of pressure from the skin.

Claims

1. Means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure to a skin area of a patient to cause the blood vessels adjacent said area to collapse and force the blood therefrom, and further means for measuring and graphically representing the rate of return flow of the blood to said blood vessels when the pressure on the skin is released, said means for intermittently applying uniform pressure including a movable means which is movable upon the application of pressured fluid thereto, a fluid supply means in communication with said movable means for intermittently supplying pressured fluid thereto, automatic means intermittently engageable with said fluid supply means for intermittently supplying pressured fluid to said movable means, means connected to said automatic means for causing the automatic means to operate, said further means including a transducer electrically connected to a recording oscillograph, an electric circuit, and said transducer being adapted to be placed in contact with the skin area of a patient, means connected to said transducer and adapted to be connected to the skin of a patient for maintaining said transducer in contact with said skin, said movable means being connected to said transducer and causing said transducer to press against the said skin area of a patient upon application of pressured fluid to said movable means to thereby force blood from blood vessels adjacent said transducer.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said movable means is extensible and is connected to said transducer in pressure applying relationship with said transducer upon the application of pressured fluid to said extensible member to cause extension thereof to thereby press said transducer against the skin of a patient.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said automatic means includes an element intermittently engageable with said fluid supply means, and means for fully and rapidly disengaging said element from said fluid supply means between engagements therewith, thereby providing a quick release of said pressure following each engagement of said element with said fluid supply means.

4. Apparatus in accOrdance with claim 1, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a deformable container for said fluid and said automatic means includes a traveling means and said element is fixed thereto and travels therewith said deformable container being mounted in the path of travel of said element for intermittent deformation thereby to force pressured fluid to said movable member.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said deformable container is in the form of a bulb, the walls of which converge from the point of the greatest diameter of said bulb providing a stem through which fluid may flow and said point of largest diameter of said bulb being in the path of travel of said element.

6. A method of measuring and graphically recording the rate of return flow of blood to collapsed blood vessels, comprising those steps of fixing a transducer in snug engagement with the skin area to which pressure is applied, automatically applying intermittent uniform pressure to said transducer, quickly releasing the pressure on said transducer following each application of pressure thereto and measuring and graphically recording by said transducer and associated electrical apparatus the rate of return of color to the skin area following quick release of pressure thereon by said transducer.

7. Means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure to a skin area of a patient to cause the blood vessels adjacent said area to collapse and force the blood therefrom and for measuring and indicating the rate of return flow of the blood to said blood vessels when the pressure on the skin is released, said means comprising;

automatic means adapted to be connected to said skin area for applying variably periodic intermittent uniform pulses of pressure to said skin area;

a transducer means adapted to be located between said automatic means and said skin area for detecting the color of said skin area as it varies in accordance with the amount of veno capillary blood in said skin area at a given time and including means for transmitting signals having characteristics which correspond to said variations; and

means operatively connected with said transmitting means for receiving said signals and indicating the color condition of said skin areas during and after each application of pressure in correspondence with said signals.

8. Means for indicating the rate of return flow of blood to collapsed blood vessels, comprising automatic means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure to a skin area and for quickly releasing the pressure following each application of pressure;

an electrical transducer means adapted to be located between said automatic means and said skin area for detecting the color of the skin in said skin area;

means adapted for maintaining said transducer adjacent the skin area to which the pressure is applied;

said automatic means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure to skin area being connected to said transducer to cause said transducer to apply uniform pressure to the skin area; and

means electrically connected with said transducer for measuring and indicating the rate of return of color to the skin area following each quick release of pressure thereto.

9. Means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure to a skin area of a patient to cause the blood vessels adjacent said area to collapse and force the blood therefrom, and further means for measuring and graphically representing the rate of return flow of the blood to said blood vessels when the pressure on the skin is released, said means adapted for intermittently applying uniform pressure including automatic means adapted to be connected to a skin area of a patient and to intermittently apply pressure thereto, said further means including a transducer electrically connected to a recording oscillograph, an electric circuit, and said transducer being adapted to be located between said automatic means and said skin area for detecting the color of the skin in said skin area.