Blood pressure monitor and pulse wave detection apparatus

• US 6,432,060 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Amano, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALLARI, PATRICIA C
• Application Number:
  US09/673,734
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600/490, 600/500, 600/501, 600/502, 600/503
• US Class Current: 600/490
• 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 5/0225 the pressure being controlled by electric signals, e.g. derived from Korotkoff sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

The blood pressure monitor (10) comprises an artery pressing section which locally presses an artery of the extremities or fingers at an arbitrarily variable pressing force, a vibration sensor (22) detecting a vibration of the artery at the pressed point or points on a peripheral side thereof, a mounting mechanism (26) which positions the artery pressing section and the vibration sensor (22) on the artery, a blood pressure determination section which determines the maximum and minimum pressures based on various pressing force values applied by the above-mentioned artery pressing section and signals detected by the vibration sensor (22) at these various pressing force values, guides (34) which are provided on each side of the vibration sensor (22) and guide the vibration sensor (22) to the artery by being located on the both sides of the artery, and a peripheral side pressing section which presses the artery on the peripheral side from the vibration sensor (22).

The blood pressure monitor (10) does not impart an unpleasant or disagreeable feeling to the subject.

Claims

1. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an artery pressing section adapted to locally press an artery of any one of extremities and fingers at an arbitrarily variable pressing force;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied by the artery pressing section;

a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of the artery at a point on the peripheral side of the point to be pressed by the artery pressing section; and

a blood pressure determination section which determines a maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure based on various pressing force values applied by the artery pressing section and signals detected by the vibration sensor at the various pressing force values.

2. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism which positions the artery pressing section and the vibration sensor on the artery.

3. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, further comprising guides provided on each side of the vibration sensor and guiding the vibration sensor to the artery by being located on both sides of the artery.

4. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral side pressing section which presses the artery at a point peripheral to the vibration sensor and almost completely shuts off the vibration transmitted by an artery section peripheral to the vibration sensor.

5. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1,

wherein the vibration sensor detects the vibration transmitted to the artery pressing section.

6. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor pressing section which causes the vibration sensor to press the artery.

7. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1,

wherein the vibration sensor is a pulse wave sensor detecting a pulse waveform, and

wherein the blood pressure monitor further comprises a conversion section which converts the pulse waveform into a blood pressure waveform based on the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

8. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 7, further comprising a blood-pressure-waveform processing section which calculates at least one of following items based on the blood pressure waveform obtained by the conversion section;

a mean blood pressure, a pulse pressure which is a difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, an after-ejection pressure which is a pressure difference between a dicrotic notch and the maximum blood pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is a pressure difference between the dicrotic notch and a dicrotic wave peak, an after-ejection pressure ratio which is the after-ejection pressure normalized by the pulse pressure, a dicrotic wave height ratio which is the dicrotic wave height normalized by the pulse pressure, and a dicrotic wave height after-ejection pressure ratio which is a ratio of the dicrotic wave height and the after-ejection pressure.

9. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1,

wherein the artery pressed by the artery pressing section, of which vibration is detected by the vibration sensor, is a radial artery.

10. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

a first artery pressing section adapted to locally press a first artery of any one of extremities and fingers having the first artery and a second artery at an arbitrarily variable pressing force;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied by the first artery pressing section;

a second artery pressing section adapted to locally press the second artery;

a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of the first artery at a pressed point or on a peripheral side thereof; and

a blood pressure determination section which determines a maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure based on various pressing force values applied by the first artery pressing section and a signal detected by the vibration sensor at each of the pressing force values.

11. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10, further comprising a positioning mechanism which positions the first artery pressing section and the vibration sensor on the first artery.

12. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10, further comprising guides provided on each side of the vibration sensor and guiding the vibration sensor to the first artery by being located on both sides of the first artery.

13. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10,

wherein the vibration sensor detects the vibration transmitted to the first artery pressing section.

14. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10, further comprising a sensor pressing section which causes the vibration sensor to press the first artery.

15. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10,

wherein the first artery pressed by the first artery pressing section, of which vibration is detected by the vibration sensor, is a radial artery.

16. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 10,

wherein the vibration sensor is a pulse wave sensor detecting a pulse waveform, and

wherein the blood pressure monitor further comprises a conversion section which converts the pulse waveforms into a blood pressure waveform based on the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

17. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 16, further comprising a blood-pressure-waveform processing section which calculates at least one of following items based on the blood pressure waveform obtained by the conversion section:

a mean blood pressure, a pulse pressure which is a difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, a after-ejection pressure which is a pressure difference between a dicrotic notch and the maximum blood pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is a pressure difference between the dicrotic notch and a dicrotic wave peak, an after-ejection pressure ratio which is the after-ejection pressure normalized by the pulse pressure, a dicrotic wave height ratio which is the dicrotic wave height normalized by the pulse pressure, and a dicrotic wave height after-ejection pressure ratio which is a ratio of the dicrotic wave height and the after-ejection pressure.

18. A pulse wave detection apparatus comprising:

an artery pressing section adapted to locally press an artery of any one of extremities and fingers at an arbitrarily variable pressing force;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied by the artery pressing section; and

a pulse sensor for detecting a pulse of the artery at a peripheral side from where the artery pressing section is to press.

19. The pulse wave detection apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a positioning mechanism which positions the artery pressing section and the pulse sensor on the artery.

20. The pulse wave detection apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising guides provided on each side of the pulse sensor and guiding the pulse sensor to the artery by being located on both sides of the artery.

21. The pulse wave detection apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the pulse sensor detects the vibration transmitted to the artery pressing section.

22. The pulse wave detection apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor pressing section which causes the pulse sensor to press the artery.

23. The pulse wave detection apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the artery pressed by the artery pressing section, of which pulse is detected by the pulse sensor, is a radial artery.

24. A pulse wave detection apparatus comprising:

an artery pressing section adapted to locally press an artery of any one of extremities and fingers at an arbitrarily variable pressing force;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied by the artery pressing section;

a pulse sensor for detecting a pulse of the artery at a pressed point or on a peripheral side thereof; and

a pressure waveform processing section which calculates at least one of the following items based on the pulse waveform obtained by the pulse sensor;

an after-ejection pressure ratio which is a after-ejection pressure normalized by a pulse pressure, the after-ejection pressure being a pressure difference between a dicrotic notch and a maximum blood pressure, the pulse pressure being a difference between the maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure;

a dicrotic notch difference ratio which is a dicrotic notch difference normalized by the pulse pressure, the dicrotic notch difference being a difference between a blood pressure of the dicrotic notch and the minimum blood pressure;

a mean-blood-pressure pulse-pressure ratio which is a ratio of the mean-blood-pressure and the pulse pressure, a dicrotic wave height ratio which is a dicrotic wave height normalized by the pulse pressure; and

a dicrotic-wave-height after-ejection pressure ratio which is a ratio of the dicrotic wave height and the after-ejection pressure.

25. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

a band adapted to be wound around any one of extremities and fingers having a first artery and a second artery;

a pressure applying section which is installed on a inner surface of the band and is adapted to apply a variable pressure to the first artery by changing a volume of a fluid included therein;

a second artery pressing section which is attached to the pressure applying section and is adapted to locally press the second artery;

a control section which controls the pressure applied by the pressure applying section;

a pressure sensor which detects a vibration of the artery transmitted as a pressure change of the fluid via the pressure applying section; and

a blood pressure determination section which determines a maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure based on various pressing force values applied by the pressure applying section and a signal detected by the pressure sensor at each of the pressing force values.

26. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

a band adapted to be wound around any one of extremities and fingers having a first artery and a second artery;

a first artery pressing section which is installed on a inner surface of the band and is adapted to locally apply a variable pressing force to the first artery by changing a volume of a fluid included therein;

a second artery pressing section which is installed on a inner surface of the band and is adapted to locally apply a variable pressing force to the second artery by changing a volume of a fluid included therein;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied by the first artery pressing section;

a pressure sensor which detects a vibration of the artery transmitted as a pressure change of the fluid via the first artery pressing section; and

a blood pressure determination section which determines a maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure based on various pressing force values applied by the first artery pressing section and a signal detected by the pressure sensor at each of the pressing force values.

27. A blood pressure monitor comprising:

an artery pressing section adapted to press an artery of any one of extremities or fingers at an arbitrarily variable pressing force;

a control section which controls the pressing force applied to the artery by the artery pressing section so as to gradually increase the pressing force from a predetermined minimum pressing force;

a pressure sensor detecting a vibration of the artery at a point on the peripheral side of the point to be pressed by the artery pressing section; and

a blood pressure determination section which determines a maximum blood pressure and a minimum blood pressure based on various pressing force values applied by the artery pressing section and a signal detected by the pressure sensor at each of the pressing force values.

28. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 27, further comprising a conversion section which converts a signal detected by the pressure sensor into a blood pressure waveform based on the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure.

29. The blood pressure monitor according to claim 28, further comprising a blood-pressure-waveform processing section which calculates at least one of following items based on the blood pressure waveform obtained by the conversion section:

a mean blood pressure, a pulse pressure which is a difference between the maximum blood pressure and the minimum blood pressure, a after-ejection pressure which is a pressure difference between a dicrotic notch and the maximum blood pressure, a dicrotic wave height which is a pressure difference between the dicrotic notch and a dicrotic wave peak, an after-ejection pressure ratio which is the after-ejection pressure normalized by the pulse pressure, a dicrotic wave height ratio which is the dicrotic wave height normalized by the pulse pressure, and a dicrotic wave height after-ejection pressure ratio which is a ratio of the dicrotic wave height and the after-ejection pressure.