Method and Apparatus for Detecting Possible Arterial Constriction by Examining an Eye
AssigneeAutotonometer Corporation
InventorsFrancis Falck, Robert Falck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tonometer capable of measuring systolic or ocular pulse pressure (OPP) can be used to examine eyes of a patient to measure whether OPP or ocular blood flow (OBF) is sub-normal to one or both eyes. This can serve as an indication of a possible constriction of blood flow in arteries leading not only to the eyes, but to the brain and other regions above the neck. Any such sub-normal measure can then indicate that further investigation of blood flow in carotid and other arteries is appropriate.
Claims14
A method of detecting possible constriction of blood flow in arteries supplying a head, the method comprising:
- examining an eye of the head with an applanation tonometer producing intra ocular pressure signals representing a diastolic phase signal and a departure from the diastolic phase signal occurring as a systolic pulse of blood enters the eye;
- determining blood flow to the eye from the systolic phase signal;
- and
- determining from the detected blood flow to the eye whether blood flow constriction in arteries supplying the head may be occurring.
A method of predicting possible cardiovascular events, the method comprising:
- examining an eye of a patient with an applanation tonometer to measure a systolic pulse of blood to the eye;
- determining an ocular pulse pressure (OPP) or ocular blood flow (OBF) from the systolic pulse to the eye;
- and
- determining whether either OPP or OBF is subnormal as an indication of possible constriction of a carotid artery leading to the eye.
A test for possible constriction of blood flow in a carotid artery preliminary to a carotid artery ultrasound examination, the test comprising:
- examining each eye of a patient with an applanation tonometer that produces a systolic pulse signal as a bolus of blood enters an eye being examined;
- determining ocular pulse pressure (OPP) or ocular blood flow (OBF) for each eye from the systolic pulse signals;
- and
- determining to proceed with a carotid artery ultrasound examination whenever the OPP or OBF determination for either eye is subnormal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.