Vascular testing system

• US 20060052713A1
• 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 7,166,076 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 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0235 Valves specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A vascular testing system includes a pressure applicator, a pressure source for generating fluid pressure at the pressure applicator; a variable orifice valve, and a valve control. The variable orifice valve is in fluid communication with the pressure applicator, and has an orifice size capable of dynamically changing. The valve control controls the variable orifice valve as a function of sensed pressure to produce substantially linear changes in pressure at the pressure applicator. Further, a method of vascular pressure measurement according to the present invention includes providing an applied pressure higher than a patient'"'"'s systolic blood pressure at a vascular location, substantially linearly decreasing the applied pressure at the vascular location, and dynamically detecting vascular pressure oscillations at the vascular location as the applied pressure is decreased.

Claims

1. A vascular testing system comprising:

a pressure applicator;

a pressure source for generating fluid pressure at the pressure applicator;

a variable orifice valve in fluid communication with the pressure applicator, wherein the valve has an orifice size capable of dynamically changing;

a valve control for controlling the variable orifice valve as a function of sensed pressure to produce substantially linear changes in pressure at the pressure applicators and

a control device, wherein the vascular testing system is capable of determining a peak pressure oscillation amplitude and wherein the vascular testing system is capable of determining as a function of the peak pressure oscillation amplitude a pressure at a return of blood flow at a vascular location adjacent the pressure applicator as pressure applied by the pressure applicator is lessened.

2. The vascular testing system of claim 1, wherein the pressure applicator is an oscillometric pressure cuff.

3. The vascular testing system of claim 2, wherein the oscillometric pressure cuff is sized to fit on a human toe.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein The vascular testing system of claim 2, wherein the vascular location is disposed at a human toe.

4. (canceled)

5. A method of vascular pressure measurement, the method comprising:

providing an applied pressure at a vascular location, wherein the applied pressure is higher than a patient'"'"'s systolic blood pressure;

substantially linearly decreasing the applied pressure at the vascular location; and

dynamically detecting vascular pressure oscillations at the vascular location as the applied pressure is decreased for determining a return of blood flow pressure at the vascular location as a function of the vascular pressure oscillations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an orifice size of a variable orifice valve is changed over time for linearly decreasing the applied pressure at the vascular location.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the return of blood flow pressure is a pressure corresponding to an oscillation amplitude of about seventy-five percent (75%) of a peak value of a curve approximating the vascular pressure oscillations.