Wrist sphygmomanometer

#The present invention relates to a wrist sphygmomanometer for measuring blood pressure by wrapping a cuff around the wrist to pressurize the wrist.

#One example of conventional wrist sphygmomanometers of this type is shown in FIG. 9. A wrist sphygmomanometer 65 includes a body 70 and a cuff 80 which is integrally attached to body 70 and wrapped around the wrist. Body 70 has a display unit 71 which can stand up to display blood pressure measurements (maximum and minimum blood pressures), pulse rate and the like, and an operation unit 72 for a power ON/OFF (measurement start/stop) switch and the like. Cuff 80 contains therein a curler (not shown) for elastically maintaining cuff 80 in a substantially circular shape, and the curler is provided inside a cuff band 81 having on its surface a hook-and-loop fastener.

#As shown in FIG. 10, sphygmomanometer 65 requires that cuff 80 is wrapped around the wrist of the left arm L, for example, with body 70 located on the inside (palm side) of left arm L and that the site of measurement (wrist) is matched in height with the heart (represented by the heart-shaped symbol) in order to accurately measure the blood pressure.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrist sphygmomanometer according to one embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 shows the sphygmomanometer shown in FIG. 1 which is fitted on the wrist of left arm.

#FIG. 3 shows a posture for measurement with the wrist of left arm placed on the chest, the left wrist having the sphygmomanometer fitted thereon.

#The present invention will be described in more detail in conjunction with the attached drawings.

#(1) First Embodiment

#Referring to FIG. 1 which is a perspective view of a wrist sphygmomanometer 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, wrist sphygmomanometer 1 includes a body 10 and a cuff 20 which is integrally attached to body 10 and wrapped around the wrist. Body 10 has its back side (the side which faces cuff 20) curved to form a recess according to the shape of cuff 20. Body 10 includes a display unit 11 for displaying icon or the like which indicates blood pressure measurements (maximum and minimum blood pressures), pulse rate, and operation sequence of the sphygmomanometer, an operation unit 12 having a switching function to turn on/off the power and start pressurization of cuff 20, and a battery cover 13 which is detachable for allowing a battery to be loaded/unloaded. Display unit 11 and operation unit 12 are arranged on a front side (opposite to the curved back side) of body 10 and battery cover 13 is arranged on an inner side of body 10. Body 10 further includes therein components (not shown) which are a pump for sending air into cuff 20, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in cuff 20, a discharge valve for discharging air from cuff 20, a battery portion for housing a battery, and a circuit board on which various electronic components are mounted.