Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Cardiovascular
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2002-01-08
Nasser, Robert L. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Cardiovascular
C606S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06336901
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blood pressure cuff for a sphygmomanometer that is used by being attached to some region of a living body or subject for measuring blood pressure. In particular, the invention relates to a cuff most appropriate for a wrist sphygmomanometer for measuring blood pressure at the wrist portion.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIGS. 9A and 9B
illustrate a conventional sphygmomanometer cuff. As shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B
, the conventional sphygmomanometer cuff
70
is constituted of an air bag
71
into which air is supplied and a strip-like band
72
for attaching air bag
71
to a certain region (arm, wrist)
80
of a living body or subject. Band
72
of cuff
70
is used to attach air bag
71
to subject region
80
and then air is supplied to air bag
71
, so that an artery
81
of subject region
80
is pressurized and accordingly blood pressure is measured during the process of discharging air from air bag
71
.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-28636 (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 63-147434) discloses “Sphygmomanometer Arm Band and Sphygmomanometer Pressurizing Device” as a prior art of the sphygmomanometer cuff. The sphygmomanometer arm band includes, in addition to a main body of the arm band, an inflatable bag and connecting means, an actuator for decreasing the diameter of the arm band by shortening the length of the arm band body. Regarding this arm band, the actuator is inflated before expansion of the inflatable bag and thus the arm band body is tighten up to an extent which is sufficient to measure blood pressure. The inflatable bag is thereafter distended to have a pressure sufficiently higher than the maximum blood pressure and then the air within the inflatable bag is gradually discharged. Blood pressure is thus measured during the discharging process.
In conventional cuff
70
, the pressurizing force required to block the flow of blood in artery
81
is provided by the volume of expansion of air bag
71
only. If cuff
70
is closely attached to subject region
80
as shown in
FIG. 9A
, air bag
71
has a wide flat portion (effective range). When air bag
71
is distended in this state, the pressurizing force is conveyed to artery
81
which is enough to block the flow of blood in artery
81
. On the other hand, if cuff
70
is attached loosely to subject region
80
as shown in
FIG. 9B
, air bag
71
has a relatively narrow effective range. Therefore, even if air bag
71
is inflated sufficiently in this state, the pressurizing force is not conveyed to artery
81
and accordingly the flow of blood in artery
81
is not blocked. In this case, an additional volume of expansion of air bag
71
is required corresponding to the space between air bag
71
and the skin, resulting in a measurement higher than a true value.
In order to avoid this problem, cuff
70
should be closely fit onto subject region
80
as shown in FIG.
9
A. However, if cuff
70
stands being attached closely to subject region
80
all the time, there would arise a feeling of being excessively pressurized. Especially in the period of sweaty summer or rainy season, there would arise discomfort. The resultant problem is difficulty in constant attachment of the sphygmomanometer (particularly wrist sphygmomanometer) even if the sphygmomanometer body or cuff is reduced in size.
Regarding the arm band and pressurizing device disclosed in the patent above, the actuator operates to reduce the diameter of the arm band and the arm band is then closely attached to the subject in a manner similar to the conventional wrapping state, and the operation of the actuator is cancelled to allow the diameter of the arm band to increase and thus loosen the arm band. This approach advantageously achieves the effect of avoiding the discomfort caused by the feeling of being excessively pressurized and unpleasant dampness. However, in measurement of blood pressure, the actuator is first expanded to pull and accordingly tighten the arm band body and then the inflatable bag is distended until a predetermined pressure is obtained. Therefore, the inflatable bag is likely to be shifted from its original position. In other words, the possibility of the shift of the inflatable bag is higher when the actuator operates to pull the arm band body after the arm band is loosely attached at first. In the event of the shift of the inflatable bag, a sufficient degree of pressurizing force cannot be conveyed to the artery, resulting in the state shown in FIG.
9
B. If the blood flow in the artery is to be blocked in this state, the volume of expansion of the inflatable bag must be increased, causing further discomfort such as the feeling of excessive pressurization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a sphygmomanometer cuff which can ensure blocking of the blood flow in an artery so as to obtain measurements with higher precision.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sphygmomanometer cuff capable of eliminating discomfort caused by the feeling of being excessively pressurized, dampness and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sphygmomanometer cuff having a pressurization surface ensuring pressurization of a particular region of a living subject.
Those objects of the present invention can be accomplished by a sphygmomanometer cuff which includes the following components. Specifically, a sphygmomanometer cuff according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fluid bag for pressurization into or in which a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied or confined and to which a pressure sensor is connected, a press portion into which a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied to cause the pressurization fluid bag to press a region of a living subject, and an attachment unit for attaching the pressurization fluid bag and the press portion to the subject region.
The pressurization fluid bag of the cuff having the pressure sensor connected thereto is different from the conventional cuff and the inflatable bag disclosed in the patent above in that only a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied into the fluid bag or a predetermined amount of fluid is confined therein in advance and then the press portion causes the pressurization fluid bag to press the subject region. In measurement of blood pressure, the press portion may just be used to press the pressurization fluid bag against the subject region. Therefore, the cuff may be attached loosely to the subject region and accordingly the discomfort caused by the feeling of excess pressure and dampness can be avoided so as to enable the cuff to be attached all the time. Further, only a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied into or confined in the pressurization fluid bag, and the force for sufficiently pressurizing the subject region by the pressurization fluid bag is obtained by the press portion. Specifically, the press portion causes the pressurization fluid bag to press the subject region. By positioning the pressurization fluid bag at a predetermined site (where artery is pressurized) when the cuff is attached, even if the cuff is attached loosely, it is possible to prevent shift of the position of the pressurization fluid bag due to the operation of the press portion which hinders conveyance of a sufficient pressure to the artery. Measurements with higher precision can thus be obtained.
According to another aspect of the invention, a sphygmomanometer cuff includes a fluid bag for pressurization into or in which a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied or confined and which is connected to a pressure sensor, a press unit into which a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied for causing the pressurization fluid bag to press the subject region, and an attachment unit for attaching the pressurization fluid bag and the press unit to the subject region. The pressurization fluid bag is curved along the surface of the subject region. The pressurization fluid bag fits onto the surface of the subje
Itonaga Kazunobu
Kato Hiroyuki
Sato Hironori
Tanaka Takahide
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Nasser Robert L.
Omron Corporation
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