Automatic ankle brachial pressure index system

• US 9,125,569 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huntleigh Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Huntleigh Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Gough, Nigel, Evans, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, STACY BROWN
• Application Number:
  US13/889,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481, 600/485, 600/490, 600/492, 600/494, 600/495, 600/504, 600/507, 606/201, 606/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02241 of small dimensions, e.g. adapted to fingers

Abstract

An ABPI measurement system includes a cuff for each ankle and a cuff for each arm of a patient. Each cuff has first and second chambers. The four cuffs are applied to each limb (or finger or toe), each chamber is inflated simultaneously to a pressure until a Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signal related to the arterial flow in the limb is detected at the chambers. The second chambers are then simultaneously inflated until the PAPG signals are extinguished in each limb, the inflation of the second chambers continuing for 10 mmHg to 20 mmHg above the extinguishing pressure. The second chambers are then deflated and the pressure in the second chamber at which the PAPG signal returns in the first chamber is recorded for each limb and this value of the pressure is used to calculate the ABPI. The ABPI is displayed or sent to a remote site.

Claims

1. An ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device including:

a. at least two inflatable cuffs, wherein;

(1) at least one of the cuffs is to be wrapped around an upper limb,

(2) at least one of the cuffs is to be wrapped around a lower limb,

(3) each of the cuffs has an inflatable proximal limb chamber and an inflatable distal limb chamber spaced therefrom;

b. a pressure sensor providing measurements of the pressures in the proximal and distal limb chambers;

c. a fluid source connected to the chambers of the cuffs,

wherein the device includes a control configured to activate the fluid source to;

(1) simultaneously inflate the distal limb chambers;

(2) while the distal limb chambers are inflated, simultaneously inflate the proximal limb chambers;

(3) subsequently deflate the proximal limb chambers; and

(4) subsequently deflate the distal limb chambers.

2. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 1 wherein the control is configured to simultaneously inflate the proximal limb chambers to pressures greater than the pressures in the distal limb chambers.

3. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 1 wherein the device further includes a display showing the pressures of the proximal limb chambers over time.

4. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 1 wherein the control is configured to activate the fluid source to:

a. simultaneously inflate the distal limb chambers until the pressures measured therein provide Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signals;

b. while the distal limb chambers are inflated, simultaneously inflate the proximal limb chambers until the PAPG signals are no longer detected;

c. subsequently deflate the proximal limb chambers until PAPG signals are again detected in the distal limb chambers;

d. subsequently deflate the distal limb chambers.

5. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 4 wherein the control is configured to continue to inflate the proximal limb chambers for a period after the PAPG signals are no longer detected.

6. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 4 wherein the control is configured to calculate the ratio of the pressures:

a. in the proximal limb chamber of the cuff wrapped about the lower limb, and

b. in the proximal limb chamber of the cuff wrapped about the upper limb,

using the pressures in the proximal limb chambers when the PAPG signals are again detected.

7. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 1 wherein the control is configured to activate the fluid source to inflate:

a. the distal limb chamber of one of the cuffs, and

b. the distal limb chamber of the other of the cuffs,

to different pressures.

8. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 1 wherein the control is configured to:

a. measure the pressures of the distal limb chambers during inflation of the distal limb chambers,

b. cease inflation of the distal limb chambers after the measured pressures of the distal limb chambers provide Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signals;

c. thereafter inflate the proximal limb chambers until the PAPG signals are extinguished.

9. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 8 wherein the control is configured to:

a. continue inflation of the proximal limb chambers after the PAPG signals are extinguished;

b. thereafter deflate the proximal limb chambers.

10. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 9 wherein the control is configured to deflate the proximal limb chambers until the PAPG signals return.

11. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 9 wherein the control is configured to record the pressures of the proximal limb chambers when the PAPG signals return during deflation of the proximal limb chambers.

12. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 11 wherein the control is further configured to calculate the ratio of:

a. the pressure in the proximal limb chamber at the lower limb, to

b. the pressure in the proximal limb chamber at the upper limb.

13. An ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device including:

a. an upper limb cuff configured to be wrapped around an upper limb, wherein the upper limb cuff has an inflatable proximal limb chamber and an inflatable distal limb chamber spaced therefrom;

b. a lower limb cuff configured to be wrapped around a lower limb, wherein the lower limb cuff has an inflatable proximal limb chamber and an inflatable distal limb chamber spaced therefrom;

c. a control configured to;

(1) inflate the distal limb chamber of each cuff to obtain a Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signal;

(2) while each cuff'"'"'s distal limb chamber is inflated, inflate the cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber until the PAPG signal disappears;

(3) deflate the proximal limb chamber of each cuff;

(4) measure the pressure in each cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber at which the PAPG signal reappears in the cuff.

14. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is further configured to calculate the ratio of the pressures:

a. in the proximal limb chamber at the lower limb, and

b. in the proximal limb chamber at the upper limb,

using the pressures in the proximal limb chambers when the PAPG signals reappear.

15. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is configured to:

a. inflate the distal limb chamber of each cuff to obtain a Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signal;

b. while each cuff'"'"'s distal limb chamber is inflated, inflate the cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber until the PAPG signal disappears;

c. deflate the proximal limb chamber of each cuff; and

d. measure the pressure in each cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber at which the PAPG signal reappears in the cuff,

first for one of the upper limb cuff and the lower limb cuff, and then for the other of the upper limb cuff and the lower limb cuff.

16. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is configured to:

a. inflate the distal limb chamber of each cuff to obtain a Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signal;

b. while each cuff'"'"'s distal limb chamber is inflated, inflate the cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber until the PAPG signal disappears;

c. deflate the proximal limb chamber of each cuff; and

d. measure the pressure in each cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber at which the PAPG signal reappears in the cuff,

simultaneously for the upper limb cuff and the lower limb cuff.

17. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is configured to inflate the proximal limb chambers to pressures greater than the pressures in the distal limb chambers.

18. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is configured to continue to inflate each cuff'"'"'s proximal limb chamber for a period after the cuff'"'"'s PAPG signal is no longer detected.

19. The ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device of claim 13 wherein the control is configured to inflate:

a. the distal limb chamber of one of the cuffs, and

b. the distal limb chamber of the other of the cuffs,

to different pressures.

20. An ABPI and/or TBPI measuring device including:

a. an upper limb cuff configured to be wrapped around an upper limb, wherein the upper limb cuff has an inflatable proximal limb chamber and an inflatable distal limb chamber spaced therefrom;

b. a lower limb cuff configured to be wrapped around a lower limb, wherein the lower limb cuff has an inflatable proximal limb chamber and an inflatable distal limb chamber spaced therefrom;

c. a control configured to;

(1) simultaneously inflate the distal limb chambers until the pressures measured therein provide Pneumo Arterial Plethysmography (PAPG) signals;

(2) while the distal limb chambers are inflated, simultaneously inflate the proximal limb chambers until the PAPG signals are no longer detected;

(3) subsequently deflate the proximal limb chambers until PAPG signals are again detected in the distal limb chambers;

(4) subsequently deflate the distal limb chambers.