Bladder-based cuff for measuring physiological parameters and method of measuring physiological parameters using same

A cuff for measuring physiological parameters of an appendage, comprising:

• a hollow, rigid tube having an inner surface and opposed ends;
• a bladder having an inner surface, an outer surface, and opposed ends, the ends of the bladder being sealed to the ends of the tube to create an enclosed internal volume between the inner surface of the bladder and the inner surface of the tube and an external volume defined by the outer surface of the bladder and surrounded by the internal volume, the bladder having a normal, relaxed state, in which the internal volume is filled with a fluid and a retracted state in which the fluid is evacuated from the internal volume;
• and
• two stiffener ribs placed on the inner surface of the bladder, parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube at diametrically opposite positions.

A cuff for measuring physiological parameters of an appendage, comprising:

• a hollow, rigid tube having an inner surface and opposed ends;
• a bladder having an inner surface, an outer surface, and opposed ends, the ends of the bladder being sealed to the ends of the tube to create an enclosed internal volume between the inner surface of the bladder and the inner surface of the tube and an external volume defined by the outer surface of the bladder and surrounded by the internal volume, the bladder having a normal, relaxed state, in which the internal volume is filled with a fluid and a retracted state in which the fluid is evacuated from the internal volume;
• a plurality of emitters and detectors positioned in the enclosed internal volume, wherein the emitters and detectors are placed on the inner surface of the bladder, and the emitters and detectors respectively emit and detect light through the bladder;
• and
• a stiffener rib placed on the inner surface of the bladder, wherein the emitters and detectors are embedded in the stiffener rib.