Method and apparatus for continuous non-invasive monitoring of blood pressure parameters

A system for measuring blood pressure comprising:

• an earpiece for sealing an individual's ear canal;
• pressure sensing means mounted in said earpiece for measuring air pressure changes in the ear canal when the ear canal is sealed with said earpiece wherein the air pressure changes are related to arterial blood pressure changes adjacent the ear canal, said pressure sensing means also producing a signal which is directly related to the measured air pressure changes;
• auxiliary blood pressure measuring means for independently measuring a parameter of the individual's blood pressure, the measurement of which is used to calibrate the signal produced by said pressure sensing means;
• processing means for processing the signal to measure blood pressure parameters;
• and
• transmitting means in communication with said pressure sensing means for transmitting the signal produced by said pressure sensing means to said processing means.

A system for measuring blood pressure parameters comprising:

• earpiece means for sealing both ear canals of an individual so that arterial blood pressure changes adjacent each sealed ear canal produce air pressure changes in each sealed ear canal;
• pressure sensing means for measuring the air pressure changes in each sealed ear canal and producing a signal for each sealed ear canal which is related to the measured air pressure changes;
• and
• processing means for processing and comparing the signals of each sealed ear canal to measure a blood pressure related parameter of the individual.

A method of measuring a blood pressure parameter comprising:

• sealing both ear canals of an individual so that arterial blood pressure changes adjacent each sealed ear canal produce air pressure changes in each sealed ear canal;
• measuring the air pressure changes in each sealed ear canal;
• producing a signal for each sealed ear canal which is related to the measured air pressure changes;
• and
• comparing the signals of each sealed ear canal to measure a blood pressure related parameter of the individual.