Blood-pressure measurement apparatus capable of heart function assessment

• US 6,652,465 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Colin Corporation (Fukuda Denshi Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ogura, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US10/142,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 600/490, 600/492, 600/493, 600/494, 600/495, 600/496, 600/499, 600/500, 600/509, 600/50
• US Class Current: 600/490
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0225 the pressure being controlled by electric signals, e.g. derived from Korotkoff sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

An apparatus for blood pressure measurement capable of heart function assessment for readily putting on a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff including a pressure-pulse-wave sensor, which is combined into one body with the cuff at an upper-stream side end of the cuff, when wrapped around an upper-arm portion, so as to detect, at the upper-stream side than a blood-flow stopped position, the pressure-pulse-wave, which is of the same waveform as an aorta waveform while blood-flow is stopped, and an ejection time calculating means (a heart function parameter calculating means), by which an ejection time ET can be calculated as a time difference from a rising-point to a dicrotic notch of the pressure-pulse waveform for heart function assessment. Since a blood pressure BP also can be measured with the cuff, all the putting on the living subject, that is needed to measure the blood pressure and heart-function is to put on the cuff, which is combined with the pressure-pulse wave sensor, and to wrap the cuff around the upper-arm portion, therefore, putting-on becomes more simple and easier for measuring a heart function parameter and a blood pressure.

Claims

1. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus provided with a variable-pressure and blood-flow stopping cuff which is adapted to be wrapped around an upper-arm portion of a living subject, that measures a blood pressure of said living subject by changing pressure of said cuff according to a predetermined speed, said apparatus comprising:

a blood-flow-stopping means for stopping blood-flow at said upper-arm with said cuff;

a pressure-pulse-wave sensor, equipped being combined with said cuff to detect a pressure-pulse-wave appearing at an upper-stream side than the blood-flow stopped position; and

a heart function parameter calculating means for calculating a heart function parameter of said living subject, based on said detected pressure-pulse-wave at said upper-stream side by said sensor, while said cuff is stopping the blood-flow of said upper-arm portion.

2. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heart-function calculating means calculates an ejection time ET as a time difference from a rising-point to a dicrotic notch, which are detected in said pressure-pulse-wave of said upper-stream side by said pressure-pulse-wave sensor.

3. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according w claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrodes to be stuck on predetermined positions of said living subject; and

an electrocardiograph to detect, via said electrodes, electro-cardiac signals representing an activity-potential of cardiac muscle,

wherein, said heart-function parameter calculating means calculates, as a pre-ejection period PEP, a time difference from a time of a Q-wave of said electro-cardiac signal detected via said electrodes by said electrocardiograph to said rising-point of pressure-pulse-wave detected by said pressure-pulse wave sensor.

4. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heart-function parameter calculating means calculates a cardiac mechanical efficiency as a ratio of an aorta effective elastace Ea to a left ventricle tele-systolic elastance Ees based on said pre-ejection period PEP and said ejection time ET.

5. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality number of pressure-pulse-wave-sensors, which are arranged in a lengthwise direction at an inner peripheral face of said cuff.

6. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a plurality number of pressure sensitive semiconductor elements, which are arranged in a lengthwise direction at a pressing face of said sensor;

and

said apparatus comprises an optimum detective element determining means for selecting a most appropriate pressure sensitive semiconductor element from said pressure sensitive conductor elements.

7. A blood-pressure measurement apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of electrodes to be stuck on predetermined positions of said living subject; and

an electrocardiograph to detect, via said electrodes, electro-cardiac signals representing an activity-potential of cardiac muscle,

wherein, said heart-function parameter calculating means calculates, as a pre-ejection period PEP, a time difference from a time of a Q-wave of said electro-cardiac signal detected via said electrodes by said electrocardiograph to said rising-point of pressure-pulse-wave detected by said pressure-pulse wave sensor.