Techniques for obtaining information associated with an individual's blood pressure including specifically a stat mode technique

Claim 1

A method of monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said method comprising the steps of: (a) Taking an initial measurement at the beginning of said period by (i) positioning a pressurizable blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (ii) maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, (iii) producing cuff pulses corresponding to said different pressure levels, (iv) from said cuff pulses, determining the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, and (v) from said cuff pulses and the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, generating a transformation curve unique to the patient; and (b) taking at least one subsequent measurement during said extended period while said cuff or pad is still in position adjacent said artery by (i) maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic pressure of the patient but below the patient's systolic pressure, as determined by said initial measurement, (ii) producing cuff pulses corresponding to these last mentioned pressure levels, (iii) from said last mentioned cuff pulses, determining the patient's diastolic pressure, and (iv) from said last mentioned cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure and from his transformation curve generated during said initial measurement, determining the patient's systolic pressure.

Claim 2

A method of monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said method comprising the steps of: (a) Taking an initial measurement at the beginning of said period by (i) positioning a pressurizable blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (ii) maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, (iii) producing cuff pulses corresponding to said different pressure levels, (iv) from said cuff pulses, determining the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, and (v) from said cuff pulses and the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, generating a transformation curve unique to the patient; and (b) taking at least one subsequent measurement during said extended period while said cuff or pad is still in position adjacent said artery by (i) maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic pressure of the patient but below the patient's systolic pressure, as determined by said initial measurement, (ii) producing cuff pulses corresponding to these last mentioned pressure levels, (iii) from said last mentioned cuff pulses, determining the patient's diastolic pressure, and (iv) from said last mentioned cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure and from his transformation curve generated during said initial measurement, determining the patient's systolic pressure.

Claim 12

An apparatus for monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for taking an initial measurement at the beginning of said period, said initial measurement taking means including (i) a pressurizable blood pressure cuff or pad positionable at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (ii) means for maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, (iii) means of producing cuff pulses corresponding to said different pressure levels, (iv) means for determining the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient from said cuff pulses, and (v) means for generating a transformation curve unique to the patient from said cuff pulses and the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient; and (b) means for taking at least one subsequent measurement during said extended period while said cuff or pad is still in position adjacent said artery, said subsequent measurement taking means including (i) means for maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic pressure of the patient but below the patient's systolic pressure, as determined by said initial measurement, (ii) means for producing cuff pulses corresponding to these last mentioned pressure levels, (iii) means for determining the patient's diastolic pressure from said last mentioned cuff pulses, and (iv) means for determining the patient's systolic pressure from said last mentioned cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure and from his transformation curve, generated during said initial measurement.

Claim 13

An apparatus for monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said apparatus comprising: (a) means for taking an initial measurement at the beginning of said period, said initial measurement taking means including (i) a pressurizable blood pressure cuff or pad positionable at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (ii) means for maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient, (iii) means of producing cuff pulses corresponding to said different pressure levels, (iv) means for determining the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient from said cuff pulses, and (v) means for generating a transformation curve unique to the patient from said cuff pulses and the diastolic and systolic pressures of the patient; and (b) means for taking at least one subsequent measurement during said extended period while said cuff or pad is still in position adjacent said artery, said subsequent measurement taking means including (i) means for maintaining said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic pressure of the patient but below the patient's systolic pressure, as determined by said initial measurement, (ii) means for producing cuff pulses corresponding to these last mentioned pressure levels, (iii) means for determining the patient's diastolic pressure from said last mentioned cuff pulses, and (iv) means for determining the patient's systolic pressure from said last mentioned cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure and from his transformation curve, generated during said initial measurement.

Claim 17

A method of monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking an initial measurement in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic levels of the patient and, from these cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic and systolic pressures are determined and, from these diastolic and systolic pressures and cuff pulses, a transformation curve unique to the patient is generated; and (b) taking at least one subsequent measurement during said period in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic level of the patient but always below the systolic pressure of the patient as determined by the initial measurement and, from these latter cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure is determined and, from this latter pressure, these latter cuff pulses and the transformation curve generated by the initial measurement, determining the systolic pressure of the patient.

Claim 18

A method of monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said method comprising the steps of: (a) taking an initial measurement in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic levels of the patient and, from these cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic and systolic pressures are determined and, from these diastolic and systolic pressures and cuff pulses, a transformation curve unique to the patient is generated; and (b) taking at least one subsequent measurement during said period in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic level of the patient but always below the systolic pressure of the patient as determined by the initial measurement and, from these latter cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure is determined and, from this latter pressure, these latter cuff pulses and the transformation curve generated by the initial measurement, determining the systolic pressure of the patient.

Claim 20

An apparatus for monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said apparatus comprising: means for taking an initial measurement in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic levels of the patient and, from these cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic and systolic pressures are determined and, from these diastolic and systolic pressures and cuff pulses, a transformation curve unique to the patient is generated and for taking at least one subsequent measurement during said period in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic level of the patient but always below the systolic pressure o the patient as determined by the initial measurement and, from these latter cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure is determined and, from this latter pressure, these latter cuff pulses and the transformation curve generated by the initial measurement, determining the systolic pressure of the patient.

Claim 21

An apparatus for monitoring certain blood pressure parameters of a patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures over an extended period of time by taking successive measurements at closely spaced intervals throughout said period, said apparatus comprising: means for taking an initial measurement in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic and systolic levels of the patient and, from these cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic and systolic pressures are determined and, from these diastolic and systolic pressures and cuff pulses, a transformation curve unique to the patient is generated and for taking at least one subsequent measurement during said period in which cuff pulses of the patient are generated at different pressure levels including levels at and above the anticipated diastolic level of the patient but always below the systolic pressure o the patient as determined by the initial measurement and, from these latter cuff pulses, the patient's diastolic pressure is determined and, from this latter pressure, these latter cuff pulses and the transformation curve generated by the initial measurement, determining the systolic pressure of the patient.

Claim 22

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the diastolic decline or systolic rise of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform; and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (f) determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (g) selecting a cuff pulse at one of said different levels of cuff pressure and, using said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 , establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (h) from said correctly scaled cuff pulse and from its positional relationship with said transformation curve, determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure, if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 23

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the diastolic decline or systolic rise of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform; and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (f) determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (g) selecting a cuff pulse at one of said different levels of cuff pressure and, using said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 , establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (h) from said correctly scaled cuff pulse and from its positional relationship with said transformation curve, determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure, if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 29

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels including levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the diastolic decline or systolic rise of his actual blood pressure waveform; and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulse for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means for generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (e) means of determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (f) means responsive to a selected one of said cuff pulses, said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 for establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (g) means responsive to said correctly scaled cuff pulse and its positional relationship with said transformation curve for determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 30

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels including levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the diastolic decline or systolic rise of his actual blood pressure waveform; and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulse for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means for generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (e) means of determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (f) means responsive to a selected one of said cuff pulses, said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 for establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (g) means responsive to said correctly scaled cuff pulse and its positional relationship with said transformation curve for determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 35

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient; (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) generating a transformation curve unique to said patient at least some of said measurements; (f) determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (g) selecting a cuff pulse at one of said different levels of cuff pressure and, using said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 , establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (h) from said correctly scaled cuff pulse and from its positional relationship with said transformation curve, determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure, if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 36

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient; (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) generating a transformation curve unique to said patient at least some of said measurements; (f) determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's waveform from said measurements; (g) selecting a cuff pulse at one of said different levels of cuff pressure and, using said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures, D 1 and D 2 , establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (h) from said correctly scaled cuff pulse and from its positional relationship with said transformation curve, determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure, if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 .

Claim 39

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of that patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual blood pressure waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulses for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means for generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (e) means of determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times from said measurements; (f) means responsive to a selected one of said cuff pulses, said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 for establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (g) means responsive to said correctly scaled cuff pulse and its positional relationship with said transformation curve for determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 1.

Claim 40

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of that patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual blood pressure waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulses for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means for generating a transformation curve unique to said patient from at least some of said measurements; (e) means of determining the actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 of the patient at times from said measurements; (f) means responsive to a selected one of said cuff pulses, said transformation curve and said actual blood pressures D 1 and D 2 for establishing the positional relationship between said transformation curve and selected cuff pulse and the correct scaling of the latter relative to said transformation curve; and (g) means responsive to said correctly scaled cuff pulse and its positional relationship with said transformation curve for determining the systolic pressure of the patient and his diastolic pressure if the latter is not blood pressure D 1 or D 2 1.

Claim 41

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels, (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) from said cuff pulses and cuff pressures ΔP, generating information sufficient to provide the patient's systolic pressure; and (f) from said information determining the patient's systolic pressure.

Claim 42

A method of obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a blood pressure cuff or pad at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient, (b) selecting first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform below the patient's anticipated systolic pressure; (c) placing said cuff or pad at different pressure levels including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at the selected points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels, (d) from said cuff pulses, measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (e) from said cuff pulses and cuff pressures ΔP, generating information sufficient to provide the patient's systolic pressure; and (f) from said information determining the patient's systolic pressure.

Claim 43

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient; (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual blood pressure waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulses for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means responsive to said cuff pulses and said cuff pressures ΔP for generating information sufficient to provide the patient's systolic pressure; and (e) means responsive to said information to determine the patient's systolic pressure.

Claim 44

An apparatus for obtaining certain blood pressure parameters of a given patient including his systolic and diastolic pressures, comprising: (a) a blood pressure cuff or pad positioned at the appropriate location adjacent a suitable artery of the patient; (b) means for placing said cuff at different pressure levels below the anticipated systolic pressure of the patient but including levels above and below the anticipated blood pressures of the patient at selected first and second points in time t 1 and t 2 on his actual blood pressure waveform, and thereby producing cuff pulses at said different pressure levels; (c) means responsive to said cuff pulses for measuring the change in cuff pressure ΔP at each of said different levels of cuff pressure for relatively narrow first and second intervals of time Δt 1 and Δt 2 containing times t 1 and t 2 , respectively, on the diastolic decline of the patient's actual blood pressure waveform; (d) means responsive to said cuff pulses and said cuff pressures ΔP for generating information sufficient to provide the patient's systolic pressure; and (e) means responsive to said information to determine the patient's systolic pressure.