Automatic identification of cuff size in automated blood pressure monitors

Claim 2

In an automatic blood pressure monitoring system for monitoring both neonatal and adult patients with a single monitor, a method of automatically detecting use of a neonatal cuff comprising the steps of: a) inflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure; b) coupling an acoustic pulse from said monitor to said cuff; c) detecting return of said acoustic pulse to said monitor from said cuff; d) measuring the time duration of propagation of said pulse; e) comparing said measured duration with a predetermined reference threshold; and f) commencing neonatal monitoring if said measured duration has a predetermined relationship with said threshold.

Claim 3

In an automatic blood pressure monitoring system adapted automatically to monitor both adult and neonatal pressure, wherein apparatus automatically conditions said system to discriminate cuff sizes, the improvement comprising a neonatal cuff for connection to said monitor through respective pressure bases, and a shunt connection between said bases proximate said cuff.

Claim 4

In an automatic blood pressure monitoring system adapted automatically to monitor both adult and neonatal pressure, wherein apparatus automatically conditions said system to discriminate cuff sizes, the improvement comprising a neonatal cuff for connection to said monitor through respective pressure bases, and a shunt connection between said bases proximate said cuff.

Claim 5

In a blood pressure monitoring system employing a selectively inflatable cuff interconnected in a pressurized closed loop with a nonitoring system, said system including a transducer for measuring loop pressure, a method for identifying the one of a selection of cuffs which is connected to the monitor, comprising the steps of: a) inflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure; b) creating a pressure change pulse at a portion of said loop opposite said transducer with respect to said cuff; c) detecting said pulse at said transducer; and d) measuring the time duration between creation of said pulse and detection thereof, said tine duration being associated in predetermined fashion with one of said cuffs.

Claim 6

In a blood pressure monitoring system employing a selectively inflatable cuff interconnected in a pressurized closed loop with a nonitoring system, said system including a transducer for measuring loop pressure, a method for identifying the one of a selection of cuffs which is connected to the monitor, comprising the steps of: a) inflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure; b) creating a pressure change pulse at a portion of said loop opposite said transducer with respect to said cuff; c) detecting said pulse at said transducer; and d) measuring the time duration between creation of said pulse and detection thereof, said tine duration being associated in predetermined fashion with one of said cuffs.

Claim 7

In an automated blood pressure monitoring system, a method for automatically determining which one of a select class of cuffs are to be employed, comprising the steps of: a) inflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure; b) establishing a target pressure which is different from said predetermined pressure; c) changing the cuff pressure at a given rate in the direction of said predetermined pressure; and d) measuring the time required to reach said predetermined pressure.

Claim 8

In an automated blood pressure monitoring system, a method for automatically determining which one of a select class of cuffs are to be employed, comprising the steps of: a) inflating said cuff to a predetermined pressure; b) establishing a target pressure which is different from said predetermined pressure; c) changing the cuff pressure at a given rate in the direction of said predetermined pressure; and d) measuring the time required to reach said predetermined pressure.