Pulse wave examination apparatus, blood pressure monitor, pulse waveform monitor, and pharmacological action monitor

• US 6,293,915 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Amano, Kazuhiko, Kasahara, Hiroshi, Ishiyama, Hitoshi, Uebaba, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US09/341,787
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 600/500, 600/501, 600/485, 600/486, 600/502
• US Class Current: 600/501
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02116 of pulse wave amplitude A61B5/02225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4854 Diagnosis based on concepts of traditional oriental medicine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms

Abstract

An FFT treating section (40) carries out the frequency analysis of a pulse waveform MHj excluding a body movement component to yield pulse wave analysis data MKD and then a tidal wave-character extracting section (50) and a dicrotic wave-character extracting section (60) yield a tidal wave-character data (TWD) and a dicrotic wave-character data (DWD) showing the characteristics of a tidal wave and dicrotic wave respectively. Then, a pulse condition judging section (70) yields pulse condition data (ZD) on the basis of this data (TWD, DWD) and in succession a notifying section (80) advises of the pulse condition of a subject.

Claims

1. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from a living body;

a tidal wave-character extracting means for extracting the characteristics of a tidal wave from the pulse waveform to yield tidal wave-character information;

a dicrotic wave-character extracting means for extracting the characteristics of a dicrotic wave from the pulse waveform to yield dicrotic wave-character information; and

a pulse condition judging means for judging the pulse condition of the living body on the basis of the tidal wave-character information and the dicrotic wave-character information.

2. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein the tidal wave-character extracting means yields the tidal wave-character information on the basis of a variation in the amplitude in the time-domain of the tidal wave; and

wherein the dicrotic wave-character extracting means yields the dicrotic wave-character information on the basis of a variation in the amplitude in the time-domain of the dicrotic wave.

3. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 2,

wherein the variations in the amplitude in the time-domain of the tidal wave and the dicrotic wave are calculated from the primary or secondary time derivative of the pulse waveform.

4. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a notification means for communicating the pulse condition judged by the pulse condition judging means.

5. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from a living body;

a frequency analyzing means for performing a frequency analysis of the pulse waveform;

a tidal wave-character extracting means for extracting the characteristics of a tidal wave from the result of the analysis of the frequency analyzing means to yield tidal wave-character information;

a dicrotic wave-character extracting means for extracting the characteristics of a dicrotic wave from the result of the analysis of the frequency analyzing means to yield dicrotic wave-character information; and

a pulse condition judging means for judging the pulse condition of the living body on the basis of the tidal wave-character information and the dicrotic wave-character information.

6. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 5,

wherein the tidal wave-character information extracting means specifies a period of the tidal wave in the pulse waveform and extracts the characteristics of the tidal wave from the tidal waveform on the basis of the result of the analysis of the frequency analyzing means in the period of the tidal wave to yield tidal wave-character information; and

wherein the dicrotic wave-character information extracting means specifies a period of the dicrotic wave in the pulse waveform and extracts the characteristics of the dicrotic wave from the dicrotic waveform on the basis of the result of the analysis of the frequency analyzing means in the period of the dicrotic wave to yield dicrotic wave-character information.

7. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the frequency analyzing means performs FFT treatment of the pulse waveform.

8. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the frequency analyzing means performs wavelet transformation treatment of the pulse waveform.

9. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from the detecting position of a living body;

an auto-correlation calculating means for calculating auto-correlation data giving the auto-correlation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse wave detecting means; and

a pulse condition-data yielding means for yielding pulse condition data giving the type of pulse waveform based on the auto-correlation data.

10. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein the pulse condition-data yielding means produces the pulse condition data by comparing the auto-correlation data with a prescribed threshold value.

11. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 10,

wherein the pulse condition-data yielding means comprises a minimum value detecting section for detecting the minimum value of the auto-correlation data during a period of one heart beat, and a comparing section for comparing the minimum value, detected by the minimum value detecting section, with the threshold value to yield the pulse condition data.

12. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 10,

wherein the pulse condition-data yielding means comprises a minimum value detecting section for detecting an average minimum value by averaging each minimum value of the auto-correlation data detected in each of plural heart beat periods, and a comparing section for comparing the average minimum value, detected by the minimum value detecting section, with the threshold value to yield the pulse condition data.

13. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein the pulse condition-data yielding means comprises:

a time measuring section for comparing the auto-correlation data with a prescribed threshold value to measure a time interval in which the auto-correlation data exceeds or is less than the threshold value;

a calculating section for calculating the ratio of the time interval, measured by the time measuring section, to a period of one heart beat; and

a comparing section for comparing the result, calculated by the calculating section, with a prescribed threshold value to yield the pulse condition data.

14. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 13,

wherein the calculating section calculates the ratio of the time interval, measured by the time measuring section, to a period of one heart beat and calculates the average of the calculated results.

15. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9,

wherein the pulse condition-data yielding means comprises a change rate calculating section for detecting the change rate of the auto-correlation data on the basis of the auto-correlation data, and a change rate comparing section for comparing the change rate, detected by the change rate calculating section, with a prescribed threshold value to yield the pulse condition data.

16. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 15,

wherein the change rate comparing section detects a maximum value of the change rate and compares the maximum value of the change rate with the threshold value to yield the pulse condition data.

17. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the pulse condition data yielding means comprises:

a minimum value detecting section for detecting the minimum value of the auto-correlation data in a period of one heart beat;

a first comparing section for comparing the minimum value, detected by the minimum value detecting section, with a prescribed first threshold value to yield pulse condition data indicating a Xuan mai when the minimum value is less than the first threshold value;

a time measuring section for comparing the auto-correlation data with a prescribed second threshold value to measure a time interval in which the auto-correlation data exceeds or is less than the second threshold value;

a calculating section for calculating the ratio of the time interval, measured by the time measuring section, to a period of one heart beat; and

a second comparing section for comparing the result, calculated by the calculating section, with a prescribed third threshold value to yield the pulse condition data indicating a Ping mai or a Hua mai.

18. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the auto-correlation data is a coefficient of auto-correlation, and the first threshold value used in the comparing operation performed in the first comparing section is 0.25 approximately.

19. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 17,

wherein the auto-correlation data is a coefficient of auto-correlation, and the second threshold value used in the comparing operation performed in the time measuring section is designed to be in a range between 0.4 and 0.8.

20. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the pulse condition data yielding means comprises:

a minimum value detecting section for detecting the minimum value of the auto-correlation data in a period of one heart beat;

a first comparing section for comparing the minimum value, detected by the minimum value detecting section, with the first threshold value to yield pulse condition data indicating a Xuan mai when the minimum value is less than the first threshold value;

a variation calculating section for detecting a change rate of the auto-correlation data on the basis of the auto-correlation data; and

a second comparing section for comparing the change rate, calculated by the change rate calculating section, with a prescribed threshold value to yield the pulse condition data indicating a Ping mai or a Hua mai.

21. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising;

a body movement detecting means for detecting the waveform of the body movement indicating the body movement of the living body; and

a body movement-component eliminating means for eliminating a body movement component from the pulse waveform to yield a body movement-eliminated pulse waveform, said body movement component in the pulse waveform generated on the basis of the body movement waveform;

wherein the auto-correlation calculating means calculates auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation on the basis of the body movement-eliminated pulse waveform in place of the pulse waveform.

22. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 21, further comprising judging means for judging the presence of body movement of the living body on the basis of the body movement waveform detected by the body movement detecting means,

wherein the body movement-component eliminating means stops the body movement eliminating operation when the judging means shows the absence of body movement to output the pulse waveform in place of the body movement-eliminated pulse waveform.

23. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

a first wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse wave detecting means to yield pulse wave analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement detecting means for detecting the movement of the living body to output the waveform of the body movement;

a second wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the waveform of the body movement detected by the body movement detecting means to yield body movement analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement component eliminating means for subtracting the body movement analysis data from the pulse wave analysis data to yield body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data; and

an inverse wavelet transformation means for performing inverse wavelet transformation of the body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data to yield a body movement-eliminated pulse waveform;

wherein the auto-correlation calculating means calculates auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation on the basis of the body movement-eliminated pulse waveform in place of the pulse waveform.

24. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

a wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse waveform detecting means to yield pulse wave analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement component eliminating means for eliminating a prescribed frequency component corresponding to a body movement among the pulse wave analysis data to yield body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data; and

an inverse wavelet transformation means for performing inverse wavelet transformation of the body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data to yield a body movement-eliminated pulse waveform;

wherein the auto-correlation calculating means calculates auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation on the basis of the body movement-eliminated pulse waveform in place of the pulse waveform.

25. The pulse wave examination apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a notification means for communicating the pulse condition data yielded by the pulse condition data yielding means.

26. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from the detecting position of a living body;

a wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse wave detecting means to yield pulse wave analysis data for every frequency zone;

an auto-correlation calculating means for calculating auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation of the pulse wave analysis data in a given frequency zone; and

a pulse condition data yielding means for yielding a pulse condition data giving the type of pulse waveform on the basis of the auto-correlation data.

27. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from the detecting position of a living body;

a first wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse wave detecting means to yield pulse wave analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement detecting means for detecting the movement of the living body to output the waveform of the body movement;

a second wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the waveform of the body movement detected by the body movement detecting means to yield body movement analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement component eliminating means for subtracting the body movement analysis data from the pulse wave analysis data to yield body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data;

an auto-correlation calculating means for calculating auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation of the body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data in a given frequency zone; and

a pulse condition data yielding means for yielding pulse condition data giving the type of pulse waveform on the basis of the auto-correlation data.

28. A pulse wave examination apparatus comprising:

a pulse wave detecting means for detecting a pulse waveform from a detection position of a living body;

a wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation of the pulse waveform detected by the pulse wave detecting means to yield pulse wave analysis data for every frequency zone;

a body movement component eliminating means for eliminating a prescribed frequency component corresponding to a body movement to yield body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data;

an auto-correlation calculating means for calculating auto-correlation data giving auto-correlation of the body movement-eliminated pulse wave analysis data in a given frequency zone; and

a pulse condition data yielding means for yielding a pulse condition data giving the type of pulse waveform on the basis of the auto-correlation data.

29. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure; and

a mean blood pressure calculating section for calculating the mean blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure.

30. The blood pressure monitor as defined in claim 29, further comprising a pulse pressure calculating section for calculating pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure.

31. The blood pressure monitor as defined in claim 30, further comprising a blood pressure conversion section for converting the waveform of arterial pressure detected by the arterial pressure waveform detecting section into the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure which is a waveform of arterial pressure at a position corresponding to the height of a heart;

wherein the mean blood pressure calculating section calculates the mean blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure; and

wherein the pulse pressure calculating section calculating the pulse pressure on the basis of the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure.

32. The blood pressure monitor as defined in claim 30, further comprising:

a blood pressure-judging information storing section for storing blood pressure-judging information in advance; and

a blood pressure judging section for judging blood pressure on the basis of at least one of the mean blood pressure and the pulse pressure and on the blood pressure-judging information.

33. The blood pressure monitor as defined in claim 30, further comprising an output section for outputting at least one piece of information corresponding to the mean blood pressure, to the pulse pressure and to the blood pressure judgment.

34. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure; and

a pulse pressure calculating section for calculating pulse pressure, which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure.

35. The blood pressure monitor as defined in claim 34, further comprising:

a maximum blood pressure calculating section for calculating the maximum blood pressure on the basis of the pulse pressure; and

a minimum blood pressure calculating section for calculating the minimum blood pressure on the basis of the pulse pressure and the maximum blood pressure.

36. A pulse waveform monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure; and

a dicrotic wave height calculating section for calculating a dicrotic wave height which is the difference in blood pressure between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave which are obtained from the waveform of arterial pressure.

37. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 36, further comprising a dicrotic pressure difference ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the ratio of a dicrotic pressure difference, which is the pressure difference between blood pressure at a dicrotic notch and the minimum blood pressure, to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

38. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 37, further comprising a mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio which is the ratio of the mean blood pressure to pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

39. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

a pulse waveform-judging information storing section for storing pulse waveform-judging information in advance; and

a pulse waveform judging section for judging the pulse waveform on the basis of the dicrotic wave height, the dicrotic pressure difference ratio and the pulse waveform-judging information.

40. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 37, further comprising an output section for outputting at least one piece of information corresponding to the dicrotic wave height, to the dicrotic pressure difference ratio, and to the pulse waveform.

41. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 38, further comprising a blood pressure conversion section for converting the waveform of arterial pressure detected by the arterial pressure waveform detecting section into the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure which is a waveform of arterial pressure at a position corresponding to the height of a heart;

wherein the dicrotic wave height calculating section calculates, based on the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is the pressure difference in blood pressure between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave;

wherein the dicrotic pressure difference ratio calculating section calculates, based on the wave form of cardiac-position arterial pressure, the ratio of a dicrotic pressure difference, which is the pressure difference between the blood pressure at a dicrotic notch and the minimum blood pressure, to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure; and

wherein the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio calculating section calculates, based on the waveform of cardiac-position arterial pressure, the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio which is the ratio of the mean blood pressure to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

42. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 38, further comprising:

a pulse waveform-judging information storing section for storing pulse waveform-judging information in advance; and

a pulse waveform judging section for judging the pulse waveform on the basis of the dicrotic wave height, the dicrotic pressure difference ratio, the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio, and the pulse waveform-judging information.

43. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 38, further comprising an output section for outputting at least one piece of information corresponding to the dicrotic wave height, to the dicrotic pressure difference ratio, to the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio, and to the pulse waveform.

44. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 36, further comprising:

a pulse waveform-judging information storing section for storing pulse waveform-judging information in advance; and

a pulse waveform judging section for judging the waveform of a pulse wave on the basis of the dicrotic wave height and the pulse waveform-judging information.

45. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 36, further comprising an output section for outputting at least one piece of information corresponding to the dicrotic wave height and to the pulse waveform.

46. A pulse waveform monitor comprising:

a pulse waveform detecting section for detecting the pulse waveform from a living body; and

a dicrotic pressure difference ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the pulse waveform, the dicrotic pressure difference ratio which is the ratio of the pressure difference between a dicrotic pressure and the minimum pressure, to a pulse pressure which is a pressure difference between the maximum pressure and the minimum pressure.

47. A pulse waveform monitor comprising:

a pulse waveform detecting section for detecting a pulse waveform from a living body; and

a mean pressure-pulse pressure ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the pulse waveform, the ratio of the mean pressure to pulse pressure which is a pressure difference between a maximum pressure and a minimum pressure.

48. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a mean blood pressure calculating section for calculating the mean blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a dicrotic wave height calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is the difference in blood pressure between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave.

49. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a mean blood pressure calculating section for calculating the mean blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a dicrotic pressure difference ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the dicrotic pressure difference ratio which is the ratio of a dicrotic pressure difference, which is the pressure difference between the blood pressure at a dicrotic notch and the minimum blood pressure, to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

50. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a mean blood pressure calculating section for calculating the mean blood pressure on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio which is the ratio of the mean blood pressure to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

51. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a pulse pressure calculating section for calculating pulse pressure, which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a dicrotic wave height calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the dicrotic wave height which is the difference in blood pressure between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave.

52. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a pulse pressure calculating section for calculating pulse pressure, which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a dicrotic pressure difference ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the dicrotic pressure difference ratio which is the ratio of a dicrotic pressure difference, which is the pressure difference between the blood pressure at a dicrotic notch and the minimum blood pressure, to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

53. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure;

a pulse pressure calculating section for calculating pulse pressure, which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, on the basis of the waveform of arterial pressure; and

a mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, the mean blood pressure-pulse pressure ratio which is the ratio of the mean blood pressure to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

54. A pulse waveform monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure; and

an ejection diastolic pressure calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, ejection diastolic pressure which is the pressure difference between systolic blood pressure and the blood pressure at a dicrotic notch.

55. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 54, further comprising:

a pulse waveform-judging information storing section for storing pulse waveform-judging information in advance; and

a pulse waveform judging section for judging the pulse waveform on the basis of the ejection diastolic pressure and the pulse waveform-judging information.

56. A pulse waveform monitor comprising:

a pulse wave detecting section for detecting a pulse waveform from a living body; and

an ejection diastolic pressure ratio calculating section for calculating, based on the pulse waveform, the ejection diastolic pressure ratio which is the ratio of ejection diastolic pressure, which is the pressure difference between systolic pressure and dicrotic pressure, to pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.

57. The pulse waveform monitor as defined in claim 56, further comprising:

a pulse waveform-judging information storing section for storing pulse waveform-judging information in advance; and

a pulse waveform judging section for judging the pulse waveform on the basis of the ejection diastolic pressure ratio and the pulse waveform-judging information.

58. A pharmacological action monitor comprising:

an arterial pressure waveform detecting section for measuring blood pressure in an artery continuously to detect a waveform of arterial pressure; and

an ejection diastolic pressure calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, ejection diastolic pressure which is the pressure difference between systolic blood pressure and blood pressure at a dicrotic notch.

59. The pharmacological action monitor as defined in claim 58, further comprising a dicrotic wave height calculating section for calculating, based on the waveform of arterial pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is the blood pressure difference between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave.

60. A pharmacological action monitor comprising:

a pulse wave detecting section for detecting a pulse waveform from a living body; and

an ejection diastolic pressure ratio calculating section for calculating the ejection diastolic pressure ratio which is the ratio of the ejection diastolic pressure, which is the pressure difference between systolic pressure and dicrotic pressure, to a pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between the diastolic pressure and the systolic pressure.

61. The pharmacological action monitor as defined in claim 60, further comprising a dicrotic wave height calculating section for calculating, based on the pulse waveform, a dicrotic wave height ratio which is the ratio of a dicrotic wave height, which is the difference in pressure between a dicrotic notch and the peak of a dicrotic wave, to pulse pressure which is the pressure difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.