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Abstract

An apparatus for observing and evaluating blood circulation utilizing pressure sensors disposed along an artery. Three pressure sensors may be used to detect pulses at the shun, khan, and shaku spots of the sunko as in the practice of Oriental medicine. In one embodiment observing blood circulation, a first pressure sensor detects a pulse in the artery on a heart side and a second pressure sensor detects an artery pulse between the heart side and a peripheral side. First and second level detecting means detect when the respective first and second pressure signals exceed predetermined levels and provide output signals to a measuring means. A biasing pressure controlling means controls the biasing force exerted by a biasing means upon the blood flow through the artery and is responsive to the output of the second level detecting means. The measuring means measures a first period of time after the first level detecting means detects that the first pressure signal exceeds a predetermined level and a second period of time from when a notch occurs in the first pressure signal until a notch occurs in the second pressure signal. Information on blood viscosity, artery hardness, and inner wall condition is also obtained.

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First Claim