Apparatus and method for moving a tissue stress sensor for applanating an artery
First Claim
1. An artery applanation actuator for placing a tissue stress sensor in operative engagement with the tissue overlying an artery of interest, said artery applanation actuator comprising:
- a source of displacement fluid,a base portion including means for mounting said base portion to the wrist of a wearer,displacing means, coupled to said base portion, and fluidly coupled to said displacement fluid source said displacing means including means for engaging and retaining said tissue stress sensor, said displacing means adapted to respond to a pressure of said fluid in said displacement fluid source and to displace said tissue stress sensor into operative engagement with said tissue overlying said artery of interest, thereby applanating said artery of interest in response to a displacement of said displacement fluid, wherein said displacing means includes a hydraulic bellows.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An artery applanation actuator for use in a system for noninvasively determining the intra-arterial blood pressure of a user incorporates a fluid actuator to effect movement of a sensor. The movement of the sensor is effective for applanating an artery of interest and measuring the stress of the tissue overlaying the artery of interest. Alternative embodiments of the artery applanation actuator are presented wherein an electric motor is used to activate a rotating arm which has a sensor located thereon. The rotation of the arm causes the sensor to contact and press against the tissue overlying the artery of interest. The artery applanation actuator is presented having a protective sheath surrounding the sensor to protect the sensor against inadvertent contact.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An artery applanation actuator for placing a tissue stress sensor in operative engagement with the tissue overlying an artery of interest, said artery applanation actuator comprising:
-
a source of displacement fluid, a base portion including means for mounting said base portion to the wrist of a wearer, displacing means, coupled to said base portion, and fluidly coupled to said displacement fluid source said displacing means including means for engaging and retaining said tissue stress sensor, said displacing means adapted to respond to a pressure of said fluid in said displacement fluid source and to displace said tissue stress sensor into operative engagement with said tissue overlying said artery of interest, thereby applanating said artery of interest in response to a displacement of said displacement fluid, wherein said displacing means includes a hydraulic bellows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An artery applanation actuator for placing a transducer in operative engagement with the tissue overlying an artery of interest, said artery applanation actuator comprising:
-
a transducer, a base portion including means for mounting said base portion to a body portion of the wearer, a transducer head portion for housing said transducer, electric motor means having a pivoting output shaft, said electric motor means attached between said base portion and said transducer head portion, for pivoting said transducer head portion thereby causing said transducer to be pivotally moved into operative engagement against said tissue overlying an artery of interest, thereby causing said transducer to applanate said artery of interest. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of applanating an artery using an artery applanation device including a stress sensor mounted to a pivotal arm, wherein said pivotal arm is adapted to pivot about an axis, comprising the steps of:
-
(A) mounting said artery applanation device to a body part of a subject, (B) pivoting said stress sensor about said axis whereby said sensor is brought into contact with a tissue overlying said artery, (C) continuing to pivot said arm after step (B) so as to cause said sensor to applanate said artery, and (D) collecting tissue stress data from said stress sensor while said artery is applanated.
-
Specification