Pulse wave detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. A pulse wave detecting apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a subject, comprising:
- a pulse wave sensor having a press surface on which at least one pressure sensing element is provided, said pulse wave sensor being pressed against an arterial vessel of a subject via a body surface above said arterial vessel so that said at least one pressure sensing element detects a pressure pulse wave produced from said arterial vessel of said subject, said at least one pressure sensing element providing an electric signal representing the detected pressure pulse wave;
pressing means for pressing said pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel via said body surface, while varying the pressing force thereof over a predetermined force range;
first means for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of the pressure pulse wave represented by said electric signal which is provided by said at least one pressure sensing element while the pressing force of said pressing means is varied;
second means for determining, based on the pulse amplitudes determined by said first means, a first force range of said pressing force within which said pulse amplitudes are generally constant, said first force range including a point at which a rate of change of said pulse amplitudes with respect to said pressing force is zero;
third means for determining a minimum magnitude of said each pulse of the pressure pulse wave represented by said electric signal provided by said at least one pressure sensing element;
fourth means for determining, based on the pulse minimum magnitudes determined by said third means, a second force range of said pressing force within which said pulse minimum magnitudes are generally constant, said second force range including a point at which a rate of change of said pulse minimum magnitudes with respect to said pressing force is minimum;
fifth means for determining, as an optimum force range of said pressing force, at least a portion of said first and second force ranges, and determining an optimum value of said pressing force such that said optimum value falls within said optimum force range; and
sixth means for adjusting said pressing means to said optimum value of said pressing force, and obtaining a pressure pulse wave of said subject through said pulse wave sensor pressing against said arterial vessel with the optimum pressing force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pulse wave detecting apparatus including a pulse wave sensor; a pressing device for pressing the sensor against an arterial vessel of a subject, while varying the pressing force; a first device for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of pulse wave which are detected by the sensor while the pressing force is varied; a second device for determining, based on the determined pulse amplitudes, a first range of the pressing force within which the pulse amplitudes are generally constant, the first range including a point at which a rate of change of the pulse amplitudes with respect to the pressing force is zero; a third device for determining a minimum value of each of the pulses detected by the sensor; a fourth device for determining, based on the determined pulse minimum magnitude, a second range of the pressing force within which the pulse minimum magnitudes are generally constant, the second range including a point at which a rate of change of the pulse minimum magnitudes with respect to the pressing force is minimum; a fifth device for determining an optimum range of the pressing force based on the first and second ranges, and determining an optimum value of the pressing force such that the optimum value falls within the optimum range; and a sixth device for adjusting the pressing device to the optimum pressing force, and obtaining a pulse wave of the subject through the sensor pressed with the optimum pressing force.
53 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A pulse wave detecting apparatus for detecting a pressure pulse wave produced from an arterial vessel of a subject, comprising:
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a pulse wave sensor having a press surface on which at least one pressure sensing element is provided, said pulse wave sensor being pressed against an arterial vessel of a subject via a body surface above said arterial vessel so that said at least one pressure sensing element detects a pressure pulse wave produced from said arterial vessel of said subject, said at least one pressure sensing element providing an electric signal representing the detected pressure pulse wave; pressing means for pressing said pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel via said body surface, while varying the pressing force thereof over a predetermined force range; first means for determining an amplitude of each of pulses of the pressure pulse wave represented by said electric signal which is provided by said at least one pressure sensing element while the pressing force of said pressing means is varied; second means for determining, based on the pulse amplitudes determined by said first means, a first force range of said pressing force within which said pulse amplitudes are generally constant, said first force range including a point at which a rate of change of said pulse amplitudes with respect to said pressing force is zero; third means for determining a minimum magnitude of said each pulse of the pressure pulse wave represented by said electric signal provided by said at least one pressure sensing element; fourth means for determining, based on the pulse minimum magnitudes determined by said third means, a second force range of said pressing force within which said pulse minimum magnitudes are generally constant, said second force range including a point at which a rate of change of said pulse minimum magnitudes with respect to said pressing force is minimum; fifth means for determining, as an optimum force range of said pressing force, at least a portion of said first and second force ranges, and determining an optimum value of said pressing force such that said optimum value falls within said optimum force range; and sixth means for adjusting said pressing means to said optimum value of said pressing force, and obtaining a pressure pulse wave of said subject through said pulse wave sensor pressing against said arterial vessel with the optimum pressing force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification