Tactile blood pressure imager

A calibrated measurement device for continuously, non-invasively, and directly measuring blood pressure, the calibrated measurement device comprising:

• a frame:
• a strap;
• a balloon coupled to an internal surface of the strap, the balloon having an inflated state in which a controlled amount of pressure isolates a signal from an artery without compromising venous and lymphatic circulation or flow in other arteries of a limb containing the artery;
• a camera mounted to the frame and spaced from the balloon;
• and
• a sensor array mounted on a surface of the balloon to directly contact a skin surface and non-invasively monitor blood pressure, the sensor array and the camera detecting deformations in the skin surface caused by changes in artery size and shape during a heartbeat cycle, the deformations in the skin surface corresponding to blood pressure.

A method for continuously, non-invasively, and directly measuring blood pressure in an artery, the method comprising:

• providing a calibrated measurement device having a strap for mounting on a limb, the strap having mounted on its internal surface a balloon, a strap control balloon, and a strap force sensor, the balloon having mounted on its internal surface a sensor array, the strap further having a frame with a first side and a second side, the balloon being mounted to the second side, the strap further having an optical system between the first side and the balloon;
• placing the strap over a limb such that the sensor array is in contact with a skin surface over an artery in a non-invasive manner;
• inflating the balloon with a controlled amount of pressure without compromising venous and lymphatic circulation or flow in other arteries of the limb containing the artery;
• in response to inflating the balloon, detecting signals, via the optical system and the sensor array, caused by changes in the artery size and shape during a heartbeat cycle;
• inflating the strap control balloon with a controlled amount of pressure to apply a tension force between the strap and the skin surface of the limb;
• based on detection by the sensor array and the strap force sensor, fine-tuning pressure applied by at least one of the balloon or the strap control balloon to enhance detection of the signals;
• and
• measuring and processing, via a controller, the signals to determine blood-pressure parameters.