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US3911903A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ocular pneumoplethysmograph and method of operation

Assignee: ELECTRO-DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS
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Filing: 1973-10-11
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1993-10-11
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Abstract

Abstract A pneumatic device for determining blood pressure pulse waves at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow to a particular part of a human body including means (such as an eye cup) attachable to a body portion (such as the ocular globe) to deform the body portion in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure (vacuum) external to the body portion; means (such as a vacuum system) for subjecting the body portion to external sub-atmospheric pressure; means for detecting pressure changes in the external sub-atmospheric pressure in response to pulsatile changes in the volume or pressure of the body portion; means for continuously varying the external subatmospheric pressure over a predetermined pressure range and a predetermined time span and means for continuously recording the pressure changes caused by the volume changes without regard to changes in the external sub-atmospheric pressure while simultaneously recording the change in the external subatmospheric pressure; which device may contain two simultaneously operating systems for recording blood pressure pulse waves from two particular body portions, and which is particularly applicable to the diagnosis of stenosis or occlusion in an internal carotid artery and for determining the extent of collateral circulation between the two internal carotid arteries.

Inventors

  • 👤 William Gee
  • 👤 Jr Chester A Smith
  • 👤 Clarence E Hinsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 07:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B3/00; A61B3/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
An apparatus for determining blood pressure pulse waves at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow to a particular part of a human body comprising: a. vacuum transmitting means attachable to a body portion to deform said portion in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to the body portion; b. detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volume of the body portion; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in said external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. said detecting means comprising a first chamber separated by a diaphragm from a second chamber, each of said chambers being operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to one of said chambers independent of said flow restrictor and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through said flow restrictor; f. and recording means for continuously recording pressure changes caused by said volume changes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 173 words
An apparatus for determining blood pressure pulse waves at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow to a particular part of a human body comprising: a. vacuum transmitting means attachable to a body portion to deform said portion in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to the body portion; b. detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volume of the body portion; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in said external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. said detecting means comprising a first chamber separated by a diaphragm from a second chamber, each of said chambers being operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to one of said chambers independent of said flow restrictor and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through said flow restrictor; f. and recording means for continuously recording pressure changes caused by said volume changes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum transmitting means is attachable to the sclera of the eye by means of an eye cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising second recordinG means for measuring and recording said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detecting means is a transducer.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 183 words
An apparatus for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow through the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries comprising; a. a pair of vacuum transmitting means attachable to the ocular globes to deform said globes in response to changing subatmospheric pressure in a system external to said globes; b. a pair of detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volumes of said ocular globes individually; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the subatmospheric pressure in the external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. a pair of recording means associated individually with each of said detecting means for continuously recording the pressure changes in said system by the volume changes in each ocular globe as a differential above or below said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure; and e. means for measuring and recording said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 183 words
An apparatus for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow through the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries comprising; a. a pair of vacuum transmitting means attachable to the ocular globes to deform said globes in response to changing subatmospheric pressure in a system external to said globes; b. a pair of detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volumes of said ocular globes individually; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the subatmospheric pressure in the external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. a pair of recording means associated individually with each of said detecting means for continuously recording the pressure changes in said system by the volume changes in each ocular globe as a differential above or below said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure; and e. means for measuring and recording said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 253 words
An apparatus for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow through the ophthalmic arteries via the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries comprising; a. a pair of vacuum transmitting means attachable to the ocular globes to deform said globes in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to said globes; b. a pair of detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volumes of said ocular globes individually; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in the external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. each of said detecting means comprising a first chamber separated by a diaphragm from a second chamber, each of said chambers being operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. each of said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to one of said chambers independent of said flow restrictor, and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through said flow restrictor; f. a pair of recording means associated individually with each of said detecting means for continuously recording the pressure changes in said system by the volume changes in each ocular globe as a differential above or below said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure; and g. means for measuring and recording said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 253 words
An apparatus for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow through the ophthalmic arteries via the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries comprising; a. a pair of vacuum transmitting means attachable to the ocular globes to deform said globes in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to said globes; b. a pair of detecting means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volumes of said ocular globes individually; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in the external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. each of said detecting means comprising a first chamber separated by a diaphragm from a second chamber, each of said chambers being operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. each of said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to one of said chambers independent of said flow restrictor, and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through said flow restrictor; f. a pair of recording means associated individually with each of said detecting means for continuously recording the pressure changes in said system by the volume changes in each ocular globe as a differential above or below said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure; and g. means for measuring and recording said continuously varying sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 146 words
A process for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of the blood flow through the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries which comprises, a. deforming both ocular globes simultaneously by the application of vacuum thereto to the point where blood flow in the ocular globes is terminated; b. allowing said vacuum to diminish toward ambient pressure; c. recording simultaneously the extent of vacuum application and the blood flow pulses generated in each ocular globe as the pressure increases to ambient by measuring the pressure adjacent the ocular globe as a differential above and below the applied vacuum, and d. repeating said process while compressing manually one of the common carotiD arteries.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 146 words
A process for simultaneously determining and comparing a pair of blood pressure pulse waves in the two ocular globes of a human being at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of the blood flow through the internal carotid arteries and of collateral circulation between the body portions served by the internal carotid arteries which comprises, a. deforming both ocular globes simultaneously by the application of vacuum thereto to the point where blood flow in the ocular globes is terminated; b. allowing said vacuum to diminish toward ambient pressure; c. recording simultaneously the extent of vacuum application and the blood flow pulses generated in each ocular globe as the pressure increases to ambient by measuring the pressure adjacent the ocular globe as a differential above and below the applied vacuum, and d. repeating said process while compressing manually one of the common carotiD arteries.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 157 words
An apparatus for determining blood pressure pulse waves at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow to a particular part of a human body comprising: a. vacuum transmitting means attachable to a body portion to deform said portion in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to the body portion; b. transducer means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volume of the body portion; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in said external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. said detecting means comprising a transducer operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to said transducer independent of said flow restrictor and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through ssaid flow restrictor; and f. recording means for continuously recording pressure changes caused by said volume changes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 157 words
An apparatus for determining blood pressure pulse waves at constantly changing levels of external vacuum as an indication of blood flow to a particular part of a human body comprising: a. vacuum transmitting means attachable to a body portion to deform said portion in response to changing sub-atmospheric pressure in a system external to the body portion; b. transducer means for detecting pressure changes in said system in response to changes in the volume of the body portion; c. vacuum control means for continuously varying the sub-atmospheric pressure in said external system over a predetermined pressure range; d. said detecting means comprising a transducer operatively connected to said vacuum control means through a flow restrictor; e. said vacuum transmitting means being operatively connected to said transducer independent of said flow restrictor and operatively connected to said vacuum control means through ssaid flow restrictor; and f. recording means for continuously recording pressure changes caused by said volume changes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2989051A Cited
US2720113A Cited
US3083705A Cited
US3308810A Cited
US3542011A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-13 1979-04-14 1979-10-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-13 1983-04-14 1983-10-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-13 1987-04-14 1987-10-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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