Automatic blood pressure cuff applicator

Abstract

An arrangement is disclosed for automatically applying to a body member a flexible inflatable cuff of the type used in taking blood pressure measurements. The arrangement includes a rotatable drum supported between a pair of end plates which have openings formed therein allowing the body member of the subject to pass through the interior of the rotatable drum. A cuff is positioned within the drum in an extended or unwound position, with one end thereof restrained against movement with the drum by virtue of a pair of ties secured to the respective end plates and also to one end of the cuff while the other end of the cuff is adapted to be carried with the drum during rotation thereof by virtue of a flexible element connected to the other end of the cuff and passing through the drum wall and about the periphery thereof with a garter spring connected both to the flexible element and to the drum outer surface. Rotation of the drum produces encirclement of the subject's body member with the garter spring allowing extension of the flexible element into the interior of the drum as the cuff is wound onto the body member with a pressure sensitive securement provided to secure the lapped cuff ends together upon rotation of the drum sufficiently to produce such overlap. Reverse rotation of the drum releases the securement and unwinds the cuff.