Noninvasive-blood-pressure (NIBP) monitoring apparatus with noninflatable, pressure-information-providing (PIP) structure

• US 5,351,694 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Protocol Systems Inc
• Original Assignee: Protocol Systems Inc
• Inventors: Marshall, John R., Davis, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/977,597
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 128/672, 128/677, 128/680-686, 128/689-690, 128/715, 128/903, 128/687, 606/201-203
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02208 using the Korotkoff method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• 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

Noninvasive-blood-pressure (NIBP) monitoring apparatus is disclosed which is usable to perform either oscillometric or auscultatory NIBP. The apparatus includes relatively adjustable, noninflatable, pressure-information-providing (PIP) structure usable to apply NIBP-useful pressure to such limb adjacent such vessel. Also included is pressure-changer structure associated with the PIP structure, and operable to adjust the same to a beginning NIBP-useful pressure, and to subsequent NIBP-useful pressures, with such adjustment effecting the availability of pressure information that can be sensed by such sensor structure. The apparatus is preferably constructed for oscillometric NIBP monitoring and includes a reaction band removably fittable on and circumscribingly about the limb of such living subject. The preferred construction is for portable, self-contained, ambulatory usage. Other embodiments include providing an output communicator for sending NIBP-data signals in various outputs including electrical, wireless and optical, and visually perceptible ones.

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained, ambulatory, noninvasive-blood-pressure (NIBP) monitoring apparatus adapted for a removable circumscribing fit relative to a subject'"'"'s limb adjacent a blood vessel therein, comprising:

frame structure releasably fittable on a subjects limb;

plural adjustable, fluid-filled, non-inflatable bladders mounted on said frame structure and adapted, with said frame structure and band so fitted, to pressure-contact such limb adjacent such vessel;

a change-condition adjustment mechanism carried on said frame structure and operatively connected to said bladder, with said adjustment mechanism also operable selectively and differentially to adjust said bladders, thus to impose and relax occluding pressure on such a vessel;

power-operated structure, and a power source therefor, on-board said frame structure, and operatively connected to said adjustment mechanism for operating the same;

plural sensors, one corresponding to each bladder, and with each sensor being operatively associated with a corresponding bladder for sensing therethrough heartbeat-induced pressure pulsations in said pulse-responsive structure, and for generating at least two streams of related NIBP-data signals; and

control means operatively connected to said power source, to said power-operated structure and to each said sensor, for controlling the operation of the power-operated structure, and for receiving the NIBP-data signals generated by the sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame structure at least partially circumsurrounds such a limb.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said power-operated structure comprises a stepper motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid in said bladder is noncompressible.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid in said bladder is compressible.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises, mounted on said frame structure, an output communicator which accommodates selectively releasable tethered output of blood-flow data generated by said sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises, mounted on said frame structure, an output communicator which accommodates selective radio-frequency output of blood-flow data generated by said sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises, mounted on said frame structure, an output communicator which accommodates selective optical output of blood-flow data generated by said sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises, mounted on said frame structure, an output communicator which accomodates visually perceptible display of blood-flow data generated by said sensor.

10. Oscillometric, noninvasive-blood-pressure (NIBP) monitoring apparatus adapted for a removable fit relative to a desired region of a subject'"'"'s limb adjacent a blood vessel therein, comprising:

a reaction band removably fittable on and circumscribingly about such limb;

relatively adjustable, noninflatable, saline-solution-filled, pulse-responsive structure associated with said band and operable, with the band fitted in place, to pressure-contact such limb adjacent such vessel, with said pulse-responsive structure being constructed with a relatively broad body with a pad-like configuration that allows at least a partial circumferential fit relative to such limb, which fit accomodates quick and accurate placement adjacent the desired region;

power-operated structure interposing said band and said pulse-responsive structure to adjust bidirectionally the latter to impose and relax NIBP-useful pressure on such vessel; and

sensor structure operatively associated with said pulse-responsive structure for sensing therethrough heartbeat-induced pressure pulsations in such vessel, and for generating related NIBP-data signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pulse-responsive structure is constructed with plural subregions, each having a sensor operatively associated it, the subregions/sensors providing plural streams of NIBP-data signals.

12. Portable self-contained, ambulatory, oscillometric, noninvasive-blood-pressure (NIBP) monitoring apparatus adapted for removable circumscribing fitment on a subject'"'"'s limb adjacent a blood vessel therein, comprising:

frame structure releasably fittable on such limb;

relatively adjustable, noninflatable pulse-responsive structure mounted on said frame structure, and adapted with said frame structure so fitted, to pressure-contact such vessel, said pulse-responsive structure including a fluid-filled, non-inflatable bladder wherein the fluid is noncompressible and is a saline solution;

change-condition adjustment mechanism carried on said frame structure and operatively connected to said pulse-responsive structure with said frame structure fitted on such limb, and being operable selectively and differentially to adjust the pulse-responsive structure, thus to impose and relax NIBP-useful pressure on such a vessel;

power-operated structure, and a power source therefor, on-board said frame structure, and operatively connected to said adjustment mechanism for operating the same;

a sensor operatively associated with said pulse-responsive structure for sensing therethrough heartbeat-induced pressure pulsations in said pulse-responsive structure, and for generating related NIBP-data signals; and

control means operatively connected to said power source, to said power-operated structure and to said sensor, for controlling the operation of the power-operated structure, and for receiving the NIBP-data signals generated by the sensor.