Method and system for detecting vascular conditions using an occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph

• US 6,626,840 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rutgers University
• Original Assignee: Rutgers University
• Inventors: Drzewiecki, Robert B., Drzewiecki, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALLARI, PATRICIA C
• Application Number:
  US10/020,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600/490-499, 600/504-507
• US Class Current: 600/490
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02255 the pressure being controlled by plethysmographic signals, e.g. derived from optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1073 Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs

Abstract

A method and system are provided for detecting various vascular conditions using an occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph. The system includes data acquisition hardware, including the occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph, for obtaining arterial and endothelial function data from a patient, processing means utilizing application or analysis software for analyzing the arterial and endothelial function data, and a database of computer models, such as brachial artery pressure versus lumen area curves (P-A curves) and brachial artery pressure versus compliance curves (P-C curves), developed by analyzing data for a plurality of subjects where their vascular conditions were known. The processing means diagnoses and predicts various vascular conditions pertaining to the patient by comparing or correlating the analyzed arterial and endothelial function data with the computer models stored within the database and presents the findings on a display.

Claims

1. An occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph for measuring patient vascular data comprising:

an arm cuff configured for placement over a patient'"'"'s brachial artery;

a pump for inflating said arm cuff,

a flow restrictor for controlling airflow out of said arm cuff depending on a valve flow resistance parameter, R, characteristic of said flow restrictor;

a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure in said arm cuff and outputting at least one pressure reading; and

a processor for receiving said at least one pressure reading and determining compliance of said arm cuff.

2. The occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said processor determines said cuff compliance, C _cuff, by the following equation:

3. The occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said processor determines said cuff compliance, C_cuff, by the following equation:

4. The occlusive arm cuff plethysmograph according to claim 1, wherein said flow restrictor exhibits laminar flow resistance.