Method and measuring device for determining blood pressure

• US 6,893,402 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Schnak, Fred, Kressmann, Frank, Freund, Dirk, Giersiepen, Martin, Harttmann, Brigitte
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/833,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 600/485, 600500-503
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0261 using hydrostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02156 Calibration means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and a device for determining the blood pressure, in which a pressure sensor is applied to an individual'"'"'s limb to detect the blood pressure prevailing in said limb. According to the present invention, the orientation of the limb is detected by means of an orientation sensing unit, and the detected blood pressure is corrected in an evaluating unit in response to the limb'"'"'s detected orientation.

Claims

1. A method of determining blood pressure, for use with an apparatus that includes (i) a limb orientation sensing unit, (ii) a blood pressure sensing unit, (iii) a display unit, and (iv) an evaluating unit, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying the blood pressure sensing unit and the limb orientation sensing unit to an individual'"'"'s limb;

(b) sensing an orientation of the limb;

(d) providing information to assist in reaching a correct orientation including displaying a graphical indication that guides the limb to the correct orientation;

(c) automatically measuring blood pressure;

(e) monitoring the displacement of the limb while measuring blood pressure; and

(f) displaying an error message if the limb is displaced during the step of measuring blood pressure.

2. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a limb orientation sensing unit;

(b) a blood pressure sensing unit;

(c) an evaluating unit; and

(d) a display unit;

wherein the evaluating unit is coupled to the blood pressure sensing unit and the limb orientation sensing unit;

wherein, upon the apparatus being applied to an individual'"'"'s limb and initiation of a blood pressure measurement sequence, the orientation sensing unit senses an orientation of the limb and the evaluating unit automatically begins processing blood pressure measurements prevailing in the limb based upon signals received from the blood pressure sensing unit and orientation sensing unit;

wherein the display unit displays a graphical indication that guides the individual'"'"'s limb into the correct orientation; and

wherein the evaluating unit monitors displacement of the limb during the step of blood pressure measurement, and the display unit displays an error message if the limb undergoes excessive displacement during a blood pressure measurement.

3. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a limb orientation sensing unit;

(b) a blood pressure sensing unit;

(c) an evaluating unit;

(d) a display unit; and

(e) a measurement value storage device for determining validity of a blood pressure measurement;

wherein the evaluating unit is coupled to the blood pressure sensing unit and the limb orientation sensing unit;

wherein, upon the apparatus being applied to an individual'"'"'s limb, the limb orientation sensing unit senses an orientation of the limb, the blood pressure sensing unit automatically detects blood pressure, and the evaluating unit detects an orientation of the limb while measuring a blood pressure;

wherein the display unit displays a graphical indication that guides the individual'"'"'s limb into a correct orientation;

wherein the graphical indication is in the form of two arrows pointing in opposite directions, and the arrows indicate a direction by which a limb orientation correction may be performed if the limb is not in the correct orientation; and

wherein the display unit further includes an error readout display for indicating an improper blood pressure measurement.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the error readout display is activated during a blood pressure measurement.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the error readout display is activated after a blood pressure measurement.

6. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a limb orientation sensing unit;

(b) a blood pressure sensing unit;

(c) an evaluating unit; and

(d) a display unit;

wherein the evaluating unit is coupled to the blood pressure sensing unit and the limb orientation sensing unit;

wherein, upon the apparatus being applied to an individual'"'"'s limb and initiation of a blood pressure measurement sequence, the limb orientation sensing unit senses an orientation of the limb and the blood pressure sensing unit automatically detects blood pressure prevailing in the limb;

wherein the display unit is configured to display an error flag if the limb is not in a correct position;

wherein signals received from the limb orientation sensing unit are continuously monitored by the evaluating unit during blood pressure measurement; and

wherein the error flag is displayed if the limb is not in the correct orientation at any time during blood pressure measurement.

7. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a limb orientation sensing unit;

(b) a blood pressure sensing unit;

(c) an evaluating unit; and

(d) a display unit;

wherein the evaluating unit is coupled to the blood pressure sensing unit and the limb orientation sensing unit;

wherein, upon the apparatus being applied to an individual'"'"'s limb and initiation of a blood pressure measurement sequence, the limb orientation sensing unit senses an orientation of the limb and the blood pressure sensing unit automatically detects blood pressure prevailing in the limb;

wherein the display unit displays a graphical indication that guides the individual'"'"'s limb into a correct orientation;

wherein the limb orientation sensing unit senses an inclination of the individual'"'"'s wrist and the correct orientation is such that the wrist is substantially adjacent to the chest/upper portion of the individual'"'"'s body; and

wherein the display unit is arranged such that a blood pressure measurement value and/or a pulse is substantially user viewable when the wrist is in the correct orientation.