Importance

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Abstract

A noninvasive blood pressure measuring system includes an inflatable cuff for encircling a portion of the human body. The cuff is inflated to a pressure sufficient to occlude arterial flow, and the pressure is then released by opening of a pressure relief valve for short periods of time to reduce the pressure until both the systolic and diastolic events have occurred. The incremental decrease in pressure with each opening of the pressure relief valve is controlled by monitoring the pressure before opening and after closing the pressure relief valve. The time duration of the next valve opening cycle is controlled as a function of the comparison of the two pressures so as to maintain an average incremental decrease in pressure. In addition to systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate is also determined by counting the number of pulses between the systolic and diastolic events and determining the time elapsed between the two events. After occurrence of the systolic event, the valve is opened between pulses and the microphone and signal processing circuitry are disabled during the valve opening to prevent valve noise from creating false pulse signals.

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First Claim