Blood pressure measuring device

• US 7,316,653 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Minoru, Nakanishi, Takefumi, Tanaka, Takahide, Inoue, Tomonori, Sano, Yoshihiko, Sawanoi, Yukiya, Nakanishi, Hiroya
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mallari; Patricia C
• Application Number:
  US11/062,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 600/499
• US Class Current: 600/499
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132

Abstract

A blood pressure monitor includes a main unit casing placed on a table, a living body insert portion casing of an approximately cylindrical shape, positioned on the main unit casing in a non-use state and having a cuff arranged on its inner peripheral surface, the cuff having a hollow portion to which an upper arm of a subject is inserted, and a connection mechanism for connecting the living body insert portion casing with the main unit casing in a movable manner such that, upon application of the cuff to the subject, the living body insert portion casing can move to come closer to the subject than the main unit casing. Thus, a blood pressure monitor provided with an automatic cuff winding mechanism enabling measurement of blood pressure with high accuracy, not giving unnecessary pain to the subject, and allowing measurement with an unconstrained posture can be provided.

Claims

1. A blood pressure measuring device, comprising:

a first enclosure adapted for resting on a table;

a second enclosure located on said first enclosure in a non-use state comprising a casing not capable of being adjusted circumferentially and having a cuff arranged on its inner peripheral surface, the cuff having a hollow opening into which an upper arm of a subject is capable of being inserted in an axial direction of the cuff; and

a connection mechanism configured for connecting said second enclosure with said first enclosure in a movable manner such that, upon application of said cuff to the subject in a state in which the first enclosure rests on the table, said second enclosure can move to come closer to the subject than in said non-use states,

wherein one end in an axial direction of a hollow opening of the second enclosure in a non-use state is covered with an upper surface of the first enclosure such that an upper arm cannot be inserted.

2. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising an inclination level detecting portion for detecting an inclination level of said second enclosure.

3. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 2, further comprising an informing portion for informing the subject of a result of determination as to whether the inclination level of said second enclosure detected by said inclination level detecting portion is within a predetermined range.

4. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 2, further comprising a control portion for determining whether the inclination level of said second enclosure detected by said inclination level detecting portion is within a predetermined range, and when it is out of said predetermined range, for controlling to terminate a measurement operation when it is already in progress, and not to enter a measurement operation when it is yet to be started.

5. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said inclination level detecting portion detects an inclination angle of said second enclosure with respect to a horizontal plane.

6. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said inclination level detecting portion detects an inclination angle of said second enclosure with respect to said first enclosure.

7. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said inclination level detecting portion detects an amount of movement of said second enclosure with respect to said first enclosure.

8. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism is formed of a pivot connection mechanism including a pivot that supports said second enclosure with respect to said first enclosure in a pivotable manner.

9. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 8, wherein torque required to be applied to said pivot to move said second enclosure is smaller than torque that is imposed on said pivot in accordance with a change in pressure of said cuff during a blood pressure measurement using the cuff.

10. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 8, wherein said pivot connection mechanism includes at least one of a damper and a friction spring for suppressing abrupt pivotal movement of said second enclosure.

11. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 8, wherein said pivot connection mechanism further includes a bias portion for biasing said second enclosure in a direction away from said first enclosure in a non-use state, and a locking portion for locking said second enclosure with said first enclosure in opposition to bias force of said bias portion in the non-use state.

12. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is not rotatable in a left or right direction with respect to the first enclosure when viewed along the axial direction of the cuff.

13. The blood pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the first enclosure includes an elbow rest at an upper surface, and one end in an axial direction of the hollow opening of the second enclosure is covered with said elbow rest in a non-use state.