Spacelabs, Inc.

Pharmasmart LLC

Spacelabs Medical, Inc.

Jack M Millay

Paul D Patterson

Jay R Sorensen

Gray E Ruff

Richard A Walloch

Joseph D LaPerna

A closed blood pressure cuff including a ring-shaped inflatable bladder having an inner portion for making direct contact with a user's arm and an outer portion having a fixed circumference outside the inner portion. The bladder is formed of non-distensible material, preferably by joining a tubular starting element. The inner portion of the bladder is not constrained during inflation and thus can readily conform to a subject's limb, the outer portion accommodating an upper limit of arm circumference within the cuff. The cuff may include a stiffener attached to the outer portion of the bladder to automatically adjust the shape of the bladder during inflation. The stiffener may be in the form of a continuous layer or may comprise a plurality of axial ribs, allowing the cuff to be folded when not in use. The cuff may be generally cylindrical or may be tapered.

Ring-shaped cuff for measurement of blood pressure

A blood pressure cuff including an inflatable bladder disposed between an elastic, resilient inner layer of material and at least one outer layer of material. The bladder is secured to these layers along the elongate ends but not along the elongate edges. The bladder is not laterally constrained during inflation. The cuff is formed into a cylindrical shape having a fixed outer diameter and includes a backing layer and apparatus for securing the bladder to a layer of the cuff to hold the bladder in place during donning of the cuff. Because the bladder is not constrained along its contact-width edges, the shape of the bladder automatically adjusts to provide a longer contact surface for larger arms and a shorter contact surface for smaller arms. The cuff is especially suited for use as a closed cuff in an automated blood pressure measurement machine or in stand-alone measurement use.

Cuff for measurement of blood pressure

A blood pressure cuff assembly that can be self-applied. The fixed end of the cuff assembly captures a cinch ring. Lateral stiffness is imparted to the fixed end to prevent it from bunching on the cinch ring. The stiffness may be imparted by the material of the fixed end or a separate stiff member may be added to the fixed end. An interface piece may be employed to connect the fixed end to the cinch ring. Stiffness is imparted to the interface piece, the fixed end, or both.

Non-bunching cinch ring engagement for blood pressure cuff

A system for determining if a blood pressure measurement made by an automatic blood pressure monitor has been adversely affected by artifact. The system first compares the diastolic, mean arterial and systolic pressures to respective average diastolic, mean arterial and systolic pressures. If all three of these pressures are within a predetermined range of their corresponding average pressures and if the relationship between these pressures conforms to a physiologically realistic model, then the diastolic, mean arterial and systolic pressures obtained from a measurement are considered valid. If more than one of these pressures is outside the predetermined range of its corresponding average pressure, then the measurement is considered to be adversely affected by artifact and is rejected. If only one of these pressures is outside the predetermined range of its corresponding average pressure, then a replacement pressure is calculated for that pressure. The replacement pressure is calculated based on the pressures that are within the predetermined range and on an average of pressures from previous measurements.

Method and apparatus for distinguishing between accurate and inaccurate

An electro-optical connector having a plug containing a center light emitter or detector and an interconnected pair of light detectors or emitters symmetrically positioned with respect to the center light emitter or detector. A socket, also containing a center light detector or emitter and an interconnected pair of symmetrically positioned outer light emitters or detectors, is adapted to receive the plug. The plug may thus be inserted into the socket with a plurality of angular orientations. The plug is retained in the socket by a pair of resilient tabs extending into respective recesses in the socket. The tabs may be removed from the recesses by exerting an outward force on the tabs, either directly or by exerting a transverse force on the plug thereby generating a rotational moment on the plug that exerts an outwardly directed force on the tab. As a result, the plug may be removed from the socket by exerting side forces on the plug without damaging the plug or socket.

Reversible optical or electro-optical connector

A harness is provided for holding a blood pressure cuff in the correct position on the arm when being worn for extended periods of time. The harness has a support member that attaches by clasps directly to the cuff on the person's arm. The support member extends from the cuff to the shoulder region of the user so that the weight of the cuff is carried by the shoulder rather than by the arm through contact pressure from the cuff itself. The support member prevents slippage or rotation of the cuff throughout the monitoring period. A strap is provided that attaches to the support member at the shoulder region and runs under the other arm of the user to hold the support member in the correct position.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Jack M Millay