Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Cardiovascular
Patent
1996-02-20
1998-04-07
Nasser, Robert L.
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Cardiovascular
600494, 600500, 4314, 4420, 4661, A61B 500
Patent
active
057357986
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an improvement in a digital sphygmomanometer of the type installed in a toilet to perform the measurement of artery blood pressure and pulse rate at the toilet.
BACKGROUND ART
Inview of the trends for longevity of the individuals, the importance of health care and maintenance has been receiving increasing attention. In order to assist the individuals in rendering their health check at home, various health monitoring and measuring instruments for domestic use have been provided which includes a sphygmomanometer. As the artery blood pressure generally fluctuates from time to time during the day and also varies in accordance with the condition of the activity of the individuals, it is recommended that the artery pressure measurement be carried out and the results recorded each day at a given time and under the same physical condition. Accordingly, there has been proposed in the art a toilet-installed sphygmomanometer which is capable of performing the artery blood pressure measurement by making use of a toilet which is used every morning periodically.
As disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,539 to Hiruta et al., the toilet-installed sphygmomanometer proposed in the art includes a housing in the form of an arm rest disposed laterally of a toilet seat, with an occluding finger cuff being arranged on the housing to permit the user to engage a finger therein to perform the measurement of the artery blood pressure and pulse rate.
In the conventional digital (i.e., finger type) sphygmomanometer of this type, the cuff is exposed upwardly of the upper surface of the housing to permit the user to insert the finger into the cuff while resting the palm upon the housing. As a result, when the digital sphygmomanometer is not in use, the cuff hinders routine use of the toilet as well as cleaning of the housing. Also, the cuff is susceptible to be fouled as it is exposed out of the housing. A compression bladder arranged inside of the cuff is difficult to clean if once fouled.
The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved toilet-installed digital sphygmomanometer which is convenient to use and wherein the cuff can be kept hygienically. Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet-installed digital sphygmomanometer which has a simple and neat appearance.
Another problem associated with the conventional toilet-installed sphygmomanometer is that it is equipped only with a single cuff of a given size. In this regard, it is desirable that the toilet-installed sphygmomanometer may be used in common throughout all the members of a family regardless of age or sex. However, the thickness (i.e., diameter) of a finger varies considerably from adults to children as well as from male to female. If a large-sized cuff suitable for use with a male's large finger had been prepared, it would be impossible to effectively occlude the artery of a slender finger such as the ones of a female. Accordingly, given a single cuff of a predetermined size, it has been difficult to carry out the artery blood pressure measurement with a high degree of accuracy.
Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a toilet-installed sphygmomanometer which is equipped with a plurality of cuffs of different size accommodating fingers of different diameter.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The feature of the present invention resides in the provision for a movable support member for supporting the cuff for movement between an operative position in which the cuff is emerged out of the housing and a rest position in which the cuff is retracted substantially within the housing. In use, the cuff is protruded out of the housing to enable the user to engage the finger therewith. When not in use, the cuff may be retracted within the housing for storage therein. Therefore, the cuff does not obstruct the routine use of the toilet so that the toilet equipped with the sphygmomanometer according to the invention is convenient to use. Furthermore, the cuff is free from fouling sin
REFERENCES:
patent: 4961431 (1990-10-01), Ikenega et al.
patent: 4962550 (1990-10-01), Ikenega et al.
patent: 4982741 (1991-01-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5111539 (1992-05-01), Hiruta et al.
patent: 5119829 (1992-06-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5184359 (1993-02-01), Tsukamura et al.
patent: 5410471 (1995-04-01), Alyfuku et al.
PCT/ISA/210, International Search Report, Japanese Patent Office, (Jun. 20, 1995).
Hiruta Yoshiki
Kanzaki Keisuke
Matsuno Takanori
Shinohara Kuniaki
Todoroki Kentaro
Nasser Robert L.
Toto Ltd.
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