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Pulse wave detecting apparatus

  • US 5,497,779 A
  • Filed: 03/08/1994
  • Issued: 03/12/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A pulse wave detecting apparatus for detecting a pulse wave from a living subject, the pulse wave comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse produced from an arterial vessel of the subject in synchronism with a heartbeat of the subject, comprising:

  • a pulse wave sensor having a press surface and including at least one array of pressure sensing elements provided in said press surface, said press surface of said pulse wave sensor being adapted to be pressed against said arterial vessel of said living subject via a body surface of said subject such that a direction of said array of pressure sensing elements intersects a direction of extension of said arterial vessel, so that each of said pressure sensing elements detects said pulse wave produced from said arterial vessel and generates a pulse wave signal representing the detected pulse wave;

    a pressing device which produces a pressing force to press said press surface of said pulse wave sensor against said arterial vessel via said body surface;

    regulating means for changing said pressing force of said pressing device applied to said pulse wave sensor, determining an optimum value of said pressing force based on at least one of the pulse wave signals generated from said pressure sensing elements, and holding said pressing force of said pressing device at the thus determined optimum value;

    lower-peak variation determining means for determining a lower peak of at least one pulse of each of the respective pulse wave signals from said pressure sensing elements, said lower-peak variation determining means iteratively determining a variation of the respective lower peaks of said pulse wave signals with respect to said array of pressure sensing elements after said pressing force of said pressing device is held at said optimum value; and

    judging means for judging whether a pressing condition of said pulse wave sensor on said body surface is stable, based on change of the lower-peak variations determined by said lower-peak variation determining means.

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