Vascular testing system

• US 20060052712A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collaborative Care Diagnostics LLC
• Original Assignee: Biomedix, Inc.
• Inventors: Romans, John Alexander, Glava, Victor Florin, Blanch, Gary Warner, Karels, Andrew Paul, Poliac, Marius, Ince, Daniel James, Steaderman, Charles Fredrec, Rogers, William Lee, Siers, Michael Jerome, Grave, Ricky Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,172,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/490
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers

Abstract

A vascular sensing system includes blood flow restricting means, a sensor, and means for producing an output representing a return of blood flow after the blood vessel has been temporarily collapsed by the blood flow restricting means. The blood flow restricting means is capable of placement on a human toe having a blood vessel, and is capable of manipulating the blood vessel. The sensor is operably connected to the blood flow restricting means and is physically spaced from the toe. Further, a method of vascular sensing includes taking pressure measurements with an pressure cuff positioned on a toe, and conducting a waveform analysis of the pressure measurements to determine a return of blood flow pressure.

Claims

1. A vascular sensing system comprising:

blood flow restricting means for placement on a human toe having a blood vessel, wherein the blood flow restricting means is capable of manipulating the blood vessel; and

a pressure sensor operably connected to the blood flow restricting means and physically spaced from the blood flow restricting means for producing a sensor signal as a function of pressure at the blood flow restricting means; and

means for producing an output representing a return of blood flow pressure after the blood vessel has been temporarily collapsed by the blood flow restricting means based upon the sensor signal.

2. The vascular sensing system of claim 1, wherein the return of blood flow pressure is a pre-determined percentage of a peak amplitude of pressure oscillations at the blood flow restricting means.

3. The vascular sensing system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is positioned so as not to physically contact a patient'"'"'s body when in use.

4. The vascular sensing system of claim 1 and further comprising a diagnostic test unit.

5. A vascular sensing system comprising:

a pressure cuff for placement on a human toe having a blood vessel, wherein the pressure cuff is capable of manipulating the blood vessel; and

a sensor operably connected to the pressure cuff for sensing cuff pressure at a location and physically spaced from the toe and producing a sensor signal as a function of sensed cuff pressure; and

means for producing an output representing a return of blood flow pressure after the blood vessel has been temporarily collapsed by the pressure cuff based upon the sensor signal.

6. The vascular sensing system of claim 5, wherein the return of blood flow pressure is a pre-determined percentage of a peak amplitude of pressure oscillations at the pressure cuff.

7. The vascular sensing system of claim 5,wherein the pressure sensor is positioned so as not to physically contact a patient'"'"'s body when in use.

8. The vascular sensing system of claim 5, wherein the pressure cuff is an oscillometric pressure cuff.

9. The vascular sensing system of claim 5 and further comprising a diagnostic test unit.

10. A method of vascular sensing comprising:

taking pressure measurements with an pressure cuff positioned on a toe; and

conducting a waveform analysis of the pressure measurements to determine a return of blood flow pressure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the return of blood flow pressure is determined as a function of a peak pressure oscillation amplitude.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure cuff is an oscillometric pressure cuff.