Assessment of vascular dilatation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for assessment of relative changes in the cross sectional area of a limb artery, comprising:
- a measurement cuff adapted to apply a pressure to an artery;
a measurement unit adapted to determine, over one or more cardiac cycles, a value for a parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied;
a controller adapted to apply to the cuff a pressure that causes the cross-sectional area of the artery to change between systole and diastole much more than if the pressure is not applied, and to induce at least two measurement rounds of the parameter by the measurement unit while the pressure is applied;
wherein the controller is adapted to induce at least one of the measurement rounds responsive to an indication that a stimulus was administered to the artery and at least one of the measurement rounds before the indication that the stimulus was administered to the artery is received;
anda processor adapted to compare the values determined by the measurement unit in the at least two measurement rounds;
whereinthe controller is adapted to apply a pressure between the diastole and systole pressure levels of the artery such that the artery collapses in diastole and recuperates in systole.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of assessment of relative changes in the cross sectional area of a limb artery. The method includes applying to the artery an external pressure, which causes the cross-sectional area of the artery to change between systole and diastole much more than if the pressure is not applied, determining, over one or more cardiac cycles, a baseline value for a parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied, applying a stimulus to the artery, determining, over one or more cardiac cycles, a stimulus-affected value for the parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied and while the artery is in a dilated state affected by the stimulus and evaluating the artery based on a comparison of the determined stimulus-affected and baseline values, the baseline value is determined while the artery is substantially not affected by the stimulus.
61 Citations
52 Claims
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1. Apparatus for assessment of relative changes in the cross sectional area of a limb artery, comprising:
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a measurement cuff adapted to apply a pressure to an artery; a measurement unit adapted to determine, over one or more cardiac cycles, a value for a parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied; a controller adapted to apply to the cuff a pressure that causes the cross-sectional area of the artery to change between systole and diastole much more than if the pressure is not applied, and to induce at least two measurement rounds of the parameter by the measurement unit while the pressure is applied; wherein the controller is adapted to induce at least one of the measurement rounds responsive to an indication that a stimulus was administered to the artery and at least one of the measurement rounds before the indication that the stimulus was administered to the artery is received; and a processor adapted to compare the values determined by the measurement unit in the at least two measurement rounds;
whereinthe controller is adapted to apply a pressure between the diastole and systole pressure levels of the artery such that the artery collapses in diastole and recuperates in systole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for assessment of relative changes in the cross sectional area of a limb artery, comprising:
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a measurement cuff adapted to apply a pressure to an artery; a measurement unit adapted to determine, over one or more cardiac cycles, a value for a parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied; a controller adapted to apply to the cuff a pressure that causes the cross-sectional area of the artery to change between systole and diastole much more than if the pressure is not applied, and to induce at least two measurement rounds of the parameter by the measurement unit while the pressure is applied; and
a processor adapted to compare the values determined by the measurement unit in the at least two measurement rounds;further comprising a second measurement cuff wherein the measurement cuff and the second measurement cuff are adapted to restrict the flow of blood and apply the pressure on the artery, respectively; wherein the measurement cuff is further adapted to apply a stimulus to the artery by occlusion of a blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for assessment of relative changes in the cross sectional area of a limb artery, comprising:
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a measurement cuff adapted to apply a pressure to an artery; a measurement unit adapted to determine, over one or more cardiac cycles, a value for a parameter related to the cross-sectional area of the artery, while the pressure is applied; a controller adapted to apply to the cuff a pressure that causes the cross-sectional area of the artery to change between systole and diastole much more than if the pressure is not applied, and to induce at least two measurement rounds of the parameter by the measurement unit while the pressure is applied; and a processor adapted to compare the values determined by the measurement unit in the at least two measurement rounds; wherein the measurement unit is adapted to measure a bio-impedance; and wherein the controller is adapted to apply pressure to the cuff and to measure an impedance through the measurement unit, substantially concurrently; and wherein the controller is adapted to calculate an endothelial functioning score, responsive to the impedance measurements. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification