Device for venous-pressure sensing

Abstract

A device for non-invasive venous-pressure sensing comprises an occlusive element (OC) configured to be applied to a proximal portion of a human limb in order to apply an occlusion pressure thereto, and a dilation-sensing element (VS) configured to be applied to a distal portion of a human limb in order to detect an extent of dilation thereof. The device likewise comprises a control circuit (10) coupled to the occlusive element (OC) and to the dilation-sensing element (VS). The control circuit (10) is configured to: —i) control (104, 106) the occlusive element (OC) in order to apply at least one sub-diastolic occlusion pressure and maintain it for a certain occlusion interval; —ii) obtain (108a, 108b) from the dilation-sensing element (VS) a sensing signal; —iii) carry out a check on the sensing signal for a certain variation of the dilation of the distal portion resulting from the fact that the occlusion pressure is removed; and —iv) issue a signal (102) indicating a venous pressure that is lower than the applied occlusion pressure (P0c) as a result of the fact that said check indicates a variation in the dilation of the distal portion of the limb resulting from the fact that the occlusion pressure has been removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.