Evaluating arterial pressure, vasomotor activity and their response to diagnostic tests

A system for dynamic evaluation of at least one indicator selected from arterial pressure, cardiac output, and vascular properties, said system comprising:

• at least two sensors, at least one of which is adapted for placement on the surface of an individual's torso, contains an accelerometer, and is further adapted for registering torso-surface movement related to cardiovascular mechanical activity;
• an acquisition module for acquiring information from said at least two sensors;
• and
• a processing module for processing said information (signal) from said at least two sensors wherein said processing module is adapted to determine at least two parameters of cardiovascular activity and is further adapted to derive at least one parameter of cardiovascular mechanical activity related to the arterial pressure in the central arteries.

A system for dynamic evaluation of at least one indicator selected from arterial pressure, cardiac output, and vascular properties, said system comprising:

• at least two accelerometer-containing MEMS sensors adapted for placement on the surface of an individual's torso and further adapted for measuring torso-surface movement related to cardiovascular mechanical activity;
• at least one acquisition module for receiving information (data) from said at least two sensors;
• and
• at least one processing module for processing said information from said at least two sensors wherein said processing module is adapted to determine at least two parameters of cardiovascular activity and is further adapted to derive at least one parameter of cardiovascular mechanical activity related to the arterial pressure in the central arteries.

A system for monitoring at least one vital sign selected from blood pressure, cardiac output, and vascular activity, said system comprising:

• at least one accelerometer-containing sensor adapted for registering at least one mechanical movement of the surface of the torso;
• at least one acquisition module for acquiring information (data) from said at least one sensor over multiple cardiac cycles;
• and
• at least one processing module adapted to process said information respecting the features that originate from at least two anatomical locations using at least one processing step selected from:
• (i) determining said at least two parameters of cardiovascular activity in at least one data type selected from:
• A. Electrocardiogram (ECG);
• B. Accelerations of the torso surface registered by said at least one sensor, which contains an accelerometer;
• C. Pressure-wave signal;
• D. The 1st derivative (acceleration) of the pressure wave registered by said at least one sensor, which contains an accelerometer;
• and
• E. The 2nd derivative of the pressure wave registered by said at least one sensor, which contains an accelerometer;
• wherein said at least two parameters of cardiovascular activity are selected from:
• i. the amplitude of the specific peaks;
• ii. the area of the specific peaks;
• iii. the duration of the specific peaks;
• iv. the time of occurrence of the specific peaks;
• v. the median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and range of temporal variation of the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure;
• vi. space-time maps of at least one distribution of the signal parameters listed above in at least two said signals;
• vii. the time of the fiducial points, including at least one parameter selected from:
• the peak of the ECG R, P, Q, S, T,
• and U wave;
• the beginning, peak, and end of the pressure wave;
• the beginning, peak, and end of the pressure-wave acceleration;
• and the beginning, peak, and end of the pressure-wave 2nd derivative;
• and further determining said at least one parameter of cardiovascular mechanical activity related to the arterial pressure in the central arteries, wherein said at least one parameter is selected from:
• i. the time intervals between the specific peaks in at least one said signal,
• ii. the time intervals between the time of occurrence of at least one specific peak in at least two said signals;
• iii. pressure-wave velocity;
• iv. arterial-pressure-wave (pulse) transit time;
• v. systolic pressure;
• vi. diastolic pressure;
• vii. mean arterial pressure;
• viii. heart rate;
• ix. vascular properties;
• x. the augmentation index;
• (ii) calibrating said parameters with respect to at least one reference selected from:
• i. systolic pressure;
• ii. diastolic pressure;
• iii. mean arterial pressure;
• iv. heart rate;
• v. vascular properties;
• vi. arterial-pressure-wave (pulse) transit time;
• vii. arterial-pressure-wave velocity;
• viii. an individual's baseline values;
• ix. characteristics of displacement from baseline values;
• x. the magnitude, range, speed, time length, and pattern of temporal changes;
• xi. the magnitude, range, speed, time length, and pattern of spatial changes with respect to different anatomical locations;
• xii. augmentation index;
• xiii. a functional relationship between at least two reference values;
• xiv. at least one measure of similarity with an individual's baseline (typical) values;
• xv. at least one measure of difference with an individual's baseline values;
• xvi. at least one measure of similarity with at least one typical pattern for an individual;
• xvii. at least one measure of similarity with at least one baseline value in a group of subjects;
• xviii. at least one measure of difference with group baseline values in a group of subjects;
• xix. at least one measure of similarity with at least one typical pattern for a group of subjects;
• xx. a functional relationship between said parameters and at least two reference points within at least one reference signal selected from:
• a. systolic pressure;
• b. diastolic pressure;
• c. mean arterial pressure;
• d. heart rate;
• e. arterial-pressure-wave (pulse) transit time;
• f. arterial-pressure-wave velocity;
• g. vascular properties;
• xxi. a functional relationship between said parameters and at least two reference points in at least two said reference signals.