Arterial endothelial function measurement method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of arterial endothelial function measurement, the method comprising:
- a) imparting a first set of one or more artificial pulses into an artery endothelium using an actuator, said artery endothelium having an initial pulse transit speed;
b) detecting the arrival of at least one of the one or more artificial pulses at a detector to determine the initial pulse transit speed;
c) modifying the artificial pulse transit speed of said artery endothelium;
d) imparting a second set of one or more artificial pulses using an actuator into said artery endothelium;
e) detecting the arrival of at least one of the one or more artificial pulses with said detector to form a modified pulse transit speed;
f) calculating a difference between said modified pulse transit speed and said initial pulse transit speed; and
g) calculating a ratio between said modified pulse transit speed and said initial pulse transit speed, wherein said ratio is a measurement of arterial endothelial function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A “relaxoscope” (100) detects the degree of arterial endothelial function. Impairment of arterial endothelial function is an early event in atherosclerosis and correlates with the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. An artery (115), such as the brachial artery (BA) is measured for diameter before and after several minutes of either vasoconstriction or vasorelaxation. The change in arterial diameter is a measure of flow-mediated vasomodification (FMVM). The relaxoscope induces an artificial pulse (128) at a superficial radial artery (115) via a linear actuator (120). An ultrasonic Doppler stethoscope (130) detects this pulse 10-20 cm proximal to the point of pulse induction (125). The delay between pulse application and detection provides the pulse transit time (PTT). By measuring PTT before (160) and after arterial diameter change (170), FMVM may be measured based on the changes in PTT caused by changes in vessel caliber, smooth muscle tone and wall thickness.
20 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of arterial endothelial function measurement, the method comprising:
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a) imparting a first set of one or more artificial pulses into an artery endothelium using an actuator, said artery endothelium having an initial pulse transit speed; b) detecting the arrival of at least one of the one or more artificial pulses at a detector to determine the initial pulse transit speed; c) modifying the artificial pulse transit speed of said artery endothelium; d) imparting a second set of one or more artificial pulses using an actuator into said artery endothelium; e) detecting the arrival of at least one of the one or more artificial pulses with said detector to form a modified pulse transit speed; f) calculating a difference between said modified pulse transit speed and said initial pulse transit speed; and g) calculating a ratio between said modified pulse transit speed and said initial pulse transit speed, wherein said ratio is a measurement of arterial endothelial function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification