Blood pressure measure system

Claim 2

A blood pressure monitor system comprising: pressing means for applying a pressing force to a body portion of a subject; measuring means for increasing the pressing force of said pressing means to a predetermined level, subsequently varying said pressing force, and measuring a blood pressure of said subject during the variation of said pressing force, said measuring means repeating the blood pressure measurement; setting means for setting a frequency at which said measuring means repeats said blood pressure measurement; and changing means for changing a rate of increase of said pressing force depending upon the measurement frequency set by said setting means.

Claim 3

The monitor system according to claim 1, wherein said changing means is for judging whether or not said measurement frequency is greater than a reference value, and selecting a first pressing force increase rate if the judgement is negative and a second pressing force increase rate higher than said first increase rate if the judgement is affirmative.

Claim 4

The monitor system according to claim 2, wherein said pressing means comprises an inflatable cuff, said measuring means comprises an air pump which supplies said cuff with pressurized air, and said changing means comprises a pump drive/regular circuit which changes a rotational speed of said air pump in two steps depending upon the selected first or second increase rate.

Claim 5

The monitor system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means is manually operated to set a measurement period, thereby establishing said measurement frequency, said setting means providing to said changing means an electrical signal representing said measurement period.

Claim 6

The monitor system according to claim 4, further comprising means for measuring a time lapse from a time when said measuring means commences to increase said pressing force of said pressing means for carrying out said blood pressure measurement, so that, when the measured time lapse has exceeded said measurement period set by said setting means, said measuring means commences to increase said pressing force for a repeated blood pressure measurement.

Claim 7

A blood pressure measure system comprising: pressing means for applying a pressing force to a body portion of a subject, said pressing means comprising an inflatable cuff; automatic regulating means for step-wise increasing the pressing force of said pressing means to a predetermined target level, the step-wise increase of said pressing force including alternate first and second periods which are predetermined independently of detection of a bio-signal produced from said subject in synchronism with a heartbeat of said subject, said pressing force being increased in each of said first predetermined periods and maintained in each of said second predetermined periods, said regulating means comprising an open/close valve, an air reservoir, an air pump which supplies said reservoir with pressurized air, said open/close valve being opened during each said first period so as to allow the pressurized air in said reservoir to be supplied to the cuff and thereby increase a pressure in the cuff as the pressing force of said pressing means, said open/close valve being closed during each said second period so as to maintain the cuff pressure; means for increasing, in each said second period, a pressure in said reservoir with said pressurized air from said pump, to an upper limit of a predetermined pressure range, and subsequently maintaining the reservoir pressure within said pressure range; and measuring means for measuring a blood pressure of said subject while the cuff pressure as said pressing force is decreased after said step-wise increase.

Claim 8

A blood pressure measure system comprising: pressing means for applying a pressing force to a body portion of a subject, said pressing means comprising an inflatable cuff; automatic regulating means for step-wise increasing the pressing force of said pressing means to a predetermined target level, the step-wise increase of said pressing force including alternate first and second periods which are predetermined independently of detection of a bio-signal produced from said subject in synchronism with a heartbeat of said subject, said pressing force being increased in each of said first predetermined periods and maintained in each of said second predetermined periods, said regulating means comprising an open/close valve, an air reservoir, an air pump which supplies said reservoir with pressurized air, said open/close valve being opened during each said first period so as to allow the pressurized air in said reservoir to be supplied to the cuff and thereby increase a pressure in the cuff as the pressing force of said pressing means, said open/close valve being closed during each said second period so as to maintain the cuff pressure; means for increasing, in each said second period, a pressure in said reservoir with said pressurized air from said pump, to an upper limit of a predetermined pressure range, and subsequently maintaining the reservoir pressure within said pressure range; and measuring means for measuring a blood pressure of said subject while the cuff pressure as said pressing force is decreased after said step-wise increase.

Claim 9

The monitor system according to claim 6, wherein said pressing means comprises the inflatable cuff, and said regulating means step-wise increases said pressing force by step-wise increasing a pressure of said cuff to said predetermined target level higher than a systolic blood pressure of said subject.

Claim 10

The monitor system according to claim 7, wherein said regulating means step-wise increases said pressure of said cuff to said target level of 180 mmHg, which is normally higher than said systolic blood pressure of said subject.

Claim 11

The measure system according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means utilizes constant values as said first and second periods, respectively.

Claim 12

The measure system according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means increases said pressing force by a predetermined value in said each first period.

Claim 13

The measure system according to claim 6, wherein said measuring means periodically measures said blood pressure at predetermined intervals of time.

Claim 14

The measure system according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means effects said step-wise pressing force increase after having monotonously increased the pressing force to a predetermined low level.

Claim 15

The monitor system according to claim 12, wherein said pressing means comprises the inflatable cuff, and said regulating means begins said step-wise pressing force increase by step-wise increasing a pressure of said cuff at said predetermined low level lower than a diastolic blood pressure of said subject.

Claim 16

The monitor system according to claim 13, wherein said regulating means beings step-wise increasing said pressure of said cuff at said low level of 25 mmHg, which is normally lower than said diastolic blood pressure of said subject.