Spacelabs, Inc.

Glen Eaton

R Carver Anderson

A blood pressure monitoring device utilizing an integrally formed, substantially unitary manifold is shown and described. The manifold has an air inlet port for communicating with an air pump, and two cuff ports, one to be coupled to a blood pressure cuff, the other to be used to sample ambient pressure. The manifold further includes a transducer port for communicating with a pressure transducer and four valve seats, for receiving high- and low-pressure distribution valves, and high- and low-pressure relief valves. The distribution valves utilize solenoids, and therefore have two positions, namely, energized and de-energized. When the solenoids are energized, communication is allowed between a first plenum chamber and the cuff ports, the first plenum chamber also being in communication with the high-pressure relief valve and the air inlet port. Simultaneously, communication between the cuff ports and atmosphere is sealed off. In contrast, when the solenoids are in their de-energized position, communication between the first plenum chamber and the cuff ports is sealed off, allowing communication between the cuff ports and atmosphere. The manifold further includes a second plenum chamber that is in communication with a low-pressure relief valve and a second cuff port, and is selectively in communication with the first plenum chamber, the two plenum chambers being in communication when the low-pressure distribution valve is in an energized position.

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Sultan, WA, United States of America

Glen Eaton