Apparatus and method for holding and positioning an arterial pulse pressure sensor

• US 6,544,188 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chesney, Charles F., Graham, Bernard M., Maloney, E. Paul, Von Duyke, Andrew L., Morgan, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/383,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600/490, 600/492-494, 600/499, 600/500, 600/502, 600/503, 600/372, 600/427, 600/439, 600/459, 600/465, 600/501, 73/650.9, 737/00, 738/665, 269/55, 269/56, 269/58
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist

Abstract

A method and a sensor holding and positioning device. In one embodiment, the device includes a sensor base having two feet, the base forming a raised bridge between the two feet. The bridge has one or more cross members spanning all or part of the space between the two feet. A sensor suspension including a sensor holder and sensor-height-adjustment mechanism is coupled by a pivot-arm axle to the sensor base, such that the sensor suspension is able to rotate in an arc about the long axis of the axle. In one such embodiment, the device further includes a pressure sensor attached to the sensor holder of the sensor suspension. In another such embodiment, the sensor suspension is able to slide back and forth along a line parallel to the long axis of the axle. Another aspect is a method for positioning a sensor over the radial artery, for example in a human'"'"'s wrist. Yet another aspect is a pulse-waveform acquisition system. In one embodiment, such a system includes a wrist stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising a first member shaped on a forearm portion to conform to contours of a forearm, shaped on a wrist portion to contours of a wrist, and shaped on a hand portion to the contours of a hand, and forming an angle of approximately 150 degrees between the forearm portion and the hand portion, the stabilizer further including straps for holding the forearm and hand to the stabilizer.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a sensor over a radial artery of a patient'"'"'s wrist comprising:

immobilizing the wrist with a wrist stabilizer;

providing a sensor holding and positioning device which includes two or more feet allowing the device to be positioned with at least one of the two or more feet against the wrist on each of opposite sides of the radial artery and a sensor held by the device between the feet such that the feet support the device on the wrist so the sensor presses against the wrist over the radial artery and the feet do not;

positioning the device with the sensor overlying the radial artery and at least one of the two or more feet on each side of the radial artery; and

adjusting a hold-down pressure of the sensor against the radial artery.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the sensor relative to the sensor holding and positioning device using a sensor-positioning member included with the device to position the sensor over the radial artery.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning of the device further comprises:

positioning the device to a substantially fixed position relative to the wrist with at least one of the two or more feet against the wrist on each side of the radial artery; and

adjusting a position of the sensor across the radial artery laterally relative to the feet to position the sensor to overlie the radial artery.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning of the device further comprises:

positioning the device to a substantially fixed position relative to the wrist with at least one of the two or more feet against the wrist on each side of the radial artery; and

adjusting an angle of the sensor across the radial artery laterally relative to the feet to position the sensor to overlie the radial artery.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing of the wrist includes strapping at least the proximal end of the patient'"'"'s fingers to the wrist stabilizer, whereby the patient is encouraged not to clench their hand into a fist.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning of the device further comprises:

positioning the device to a substantially fixed position relative to the wrist with at least one of the two or more feet against the wrist on each side of the radial artery; and

adjusting a position of the sensor along the radial artery longitudinally relative to the feet to position the sensor to overlie the radial artery.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the immobilizing of the wrist includes adjustably strapping the patient'"'"'s hand to the wrist stabilizer such that the back of the hand and the back of the forearm form an angle of about 146 degrees.

3. A pulse-waveform acquisition system, comprising:

a wrist stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising a first member shaped on a forearm portion to conform to contours of a forearm of a patient, shaped on a wrist portion to contours of a wrist of the patient, and shaped on a hand portion to the contours of a hand of the patient, and forming an angle of approximately 150 degrees between the forearm portion and the hand portion, the stabilizer further including a first strap for holding the forearm to the stabilizer and a second strap for holding the hand to the stabilizer,

a sensor holding and positioning device, the device comprising;

a sensor bridge base including one or more feet members and one or more support members elevated above the feet members;

a sensor suspension mounted to the support members; and

a sensor holder held by the sensor suspension in a position beside one or more feet of the sensor bridge base;

whereby the sensor holder may positioned at a desired location on a stabilized wrist.

4. The pulse-waveform acquisition system according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure sensor attached to the sensor holder of the sensor suspension.

5. A pulse-waveform acquisition system, comprising:

a wrist stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising a first member shaped on a forearm portion to conform to contours of a forearm of a patient, shaped on a wrist portion to contours of a wrist of the patient, and shaped on a hand portion to the contours of a hand of the patient, and forming an angle of approximately 150 degrees between the forearm portion and the hand portion, the stabilizer further including a first strap for holding the forearm to the stabilizer and a second strap for holding the hand to the stabilizer,

a sensor holding and positioning device, the device comprising;

a sensor base having a plurality of feet, the base forming a raised bridge between the feet, the bridge having one or more cross members spanning all or part of the space between the feet, wherein the feet are positioned on either side of an area to be sensed such that space between the feet is over the area to be sensed;

a sensor suspension including a sensor holder and sensor-height-adjustment mechanism;

a pressure sensor attached to the sensor holder of the sensor suspension; and

a pivot-arm axle having a long axis, the axle coupled to and between the sensor suspension and the sensor base such that the sensor suspension is able to rotate in an arc about the long axis of the axle over the area to be sensed.

6. The pulse-waveform acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the sensor suspension is movable in an arc around a long axis of the axle.

7. The pulse-waveform acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the sensor suspension is movable along a long axis of the axle.

8. The pulse-waveform acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the long axis of the axle is movable in an arc relative to the sensor base.

9. The pulse-waveform acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the axle is arcuately movable relative to the sensor base and wherein the sensor suspension is movable along an axis of the axle.

14. A method for positioning a sensor over a radial artery of a patient'"'"'s wrist comprising:

providing a wrist stabilizer;

immobilizing the wrist with a wrist stabilizer;

providing a sensor holding and positioning device that includes a plurality of spaced-apart feet and a raised section between the feet allowing the device to be positioned with at least one of the feet against the wrist on each of opposite sides of the radial artery and a sensor held by the raised section between the feet such that the feet support the device on the wrist so the sensor presses against the wrist over the radial artery and the feet do not;

positioning the device to a position with at least one of the feet against the wrist on each side of the radial artery;

positioning the sensor to overlie the radial artery; and

adjusting a hold-down pressure of the sensor against the radial artery.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the positioning of the device to the position includes positioning the feet to a substantially fixed position relative to the wrist, and the positioning of the sensor includes moving the sensor longitudinally along the radial artery while keeping the feet in the substantially fixed position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the positioning of the device to the position includes positioning the feet to a substantially fixed position relative to the wrist, and the positioning of the sensor includes moving the sensor laterally across the radial artery while keeping the feet in the substantially fixed position.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the immobilizing of the wrist includes strapping at least the proximal end of the patient'"'"'s fingers to the wrist stabilizer, whereby the patient is encouraged not to clench their hand into a fist.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the immobilizing of the wrist includes strapping the patient'"'"'s hand and forearm to the wrist stabilizer such that the back of the hand and the back of the forearm form an angle of about 150 degrees.