Blood pressure cuff with tapered bladder

A method of using a blood pressure cuff, the method comprising:

• providing a blood pressure cuff comprising:
• an alignment component having a front straight edge;
• a sleeve;
• and
• a tapered inflatable bladder disposed within the sleeve, wherein the tapered inflatable bladder has a width that increases as the distance from the front straight edge increases, and wherein the tapered inflatable bladder and the alignment component are configured to position the blood pressure cuff around a limb having a blood vessel and a circumference such that at a position coincident with the blood vessel, the width of the tapered inflatable bladder is about 40% of the circumference of the limb for any circumference within a range of circumferences;
• wherein the alignment component has a length between the front straight edge and the tapered inflatable bladder, and wherein the tapered inflatable bladder does not extend into the alignment component;
• placing the front straight edge of the alignment component at the position coincident with the blood vessel of the limb;
• wrapping the blood pressure cuff around the limb, thereby causing the width of the tapered inflatable bladder to overlay a portion of the blood vessel such that the width of the tapered inflatable bladder is about 40% of the circumference of the limb;
• and
• inflating the bladder.