US 6,511,435 B1 · Blood pressure measurement system

Abstract

A blood pressure measurement device and associated operating method utilize a measurement algorithm based on a plurality of measurements, supplying a unique ability to increase diagnostic and analytical success in detection. In an illustrative implementation, three measurement techniques are used in combination to improve overall measurement accuracy. A first of the three techniques is an ascultatory technique. A sound measurement acquired from a microphone located in the measurement cuff detects start and end Korotkoff sounds using a combination of filters. The auscultatory technique is a conventional method that is recommended by the American Heart Association and is similar to manual techniques used by a nurse or technician. The auscultatory technique and associated filtering techniques are well known by those having ordinary skill in the art. A second technique is an oscillometric technique that is commonly found in many low-cost blood pressure measurement devices. A pressure cuff is used to measure pressure oscillations, which are detected and monitored using mean pressure, and systolic and diastolic pressure ratios to identify systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A third technique, called a pattern recognition technique, measures a sound envelope and incorporates pattern recognition to identify systolic and diastolic pressures. A signal from the pressure sensor is used in addition to the three techniques to quantify the regions of sound under analysis.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A test apparatus comprising:

an ascultatory analyzer that is capable of sensing and analyzing an audio signal using Korotkoff sounds to determine a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure;
an oscillometric analyzer that is capable of sensing and analyzing oscillations of a pressure signal to determine the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, the oscillometric analyzer using information from the ausculatory analyzer to sense and analyze the oscillations;
a pattern recognition analyzer that is capable of sensing a pressure envelope and analyzes the pressure envelope using a pattern recognition analysis by monitoring the envelope pattern to locate characteristic changes, and identifying systolic and diastolic pressures from the characteristic changes;
and
a control element coupled to the ascultatory analyzer, the oscillometric analyzer, and the pattern recognition analyzer that determines an optimal systolic pressure result and an optimal diastolic pressure result based on results from the ascultatory analysis, the oscillometric analysis and the pattern recognition analysis.

2 more elements

A blood pressure measurement system comprising:

a kiosk;
a blood pressure interface coupled to the kiosk and capable of detecting a pressure signal;
a microphone coupled to the blood pressure interface and capable of detecting an audio signal;
and
a blood pressure analyzer coupled to the kiosk, the blood pressure interface, and the microphone, the blood pressure analyzer including a plurality of separate analyzers that detect blood pressure using a plurality of separate analysis techniques, the plurality of analysis techniques being based on audio signals, on pressure oscillations, and on a pressure envelope, information from the separated analyzers being shared for performance of the analysis techniques;
wherein the plurality of separate analyzers comprise:
an ascultatory analyzer that is capable of sensing and analyzing the audio signal using Korotkoff sounds to determine a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure;
an oscillometric analyzer that is capable of sensing and analyzing oscillations of a pressure signal to determine the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, the oscillometric analyzer using information from the ascultatory analyzer to sense and analyze the oscillations;
and
a pattern recognition analyzer that is capable of sensing a pressure envelope and analyzes the pressure envelope using a pattern recognition analysis by monitoring the envelope pattern to locate characteristic changes, and identifying systolic and diastolic pressures from the characteristic changes;
and
a control element coupled to the ascultatory analyzer, the oscillometric analyzer, and the pattern recognition analyzer that determines an optimal systolic pressure result and an optimal diastolic pressure result based on results from the ascultatory analysis, the oscillometric analysis and the pattern recognition analysis.

9 more elements

A method of measuring blood pressure of a test subject comprising:

sensing an audio signal;
analyzing the audio signal using an ascultatory analysis of Korotkoff sounds to determine a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure;
sensing pressure oscillations;
analyzing the pressure oscillations using an oscillometric analysis;
further including:
determining mean pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure from the pressure oscillations;
and
identifying systolic and diastolic pressures from the mean pressure, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure;
sensing a pressure envelope;
analyzing the pressure envelope using a pattern recognition analysis including:
monitoring the envelope pattern to locate characteristic changes;
identifying systolic and diastolic pressures from the characteristic changes;
determining an optimal systolic pressure result and an optimal diastolic pressure result based on results from the ascultatory analysis, the oscillometric analysis, and the pattern recognition analysis;
and
sharing information from the separate sensing actions among the separate analyzing actions.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blood pressure measurement system

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Blood pressure measurement system

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Abstract

Claims29