Passive/non-invasive systemic and pulmonary blood pressure measurement

• US 6,179,783 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AusculSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aurora Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Mohler, Sailor
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,226
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600/500-503, 600/400, 600/586
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

An apparatus, operation and method for measurement of systemic and/or pulmonic blood pressure. The present invention offers a passive non-invasive method and system that can be used where measurement of systemic pressure with a traditional blood pressure cuff is contraindicated. The present invention also affords a means for early diagnosis and opportunity for intervention in patients with no symptoms or signs of elevated pulmonary blood pressure that can be performed as part of a routine physical exam. The present invention accomplishes this non-invasive measurement through detection, identification and characterization of the second heart sound acoustic signature associated with heart valve closure. An apparatus for measuring systemic and/or pulmonic blood pressure in accordance with the present invention includes a sensor assembly comprising a housing, an electronic module, a shock dampener, a mounting means, a transducer, an acoustic coupling and a back cover. The sensor assembly is connected to a data acquisition module which in turn is connected to a signal processing means, a remote connection means and a monitor. An improved acoustic coupling is disclosed that provides low-loss acoustic transmission coupling between the skin of the patient and the detector.

Claims

1. A method of using an acoustic coupling with an apparatus for determining blood pressure of a patient, the apparatus having a transducer, the method comprising:

providing an acoustic coupling having a substantially logarithmic high-pass filter characteristic; and

positioning the acoustic coupling as a low-loss high frequency acoustic transmission coupling between skin of the patient and the transducer.