Method of automatically measuring blood pressure, and apparatus therefor

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for linearly pressurizing a cuff, affixed to the limb of a patient, with gas from a liquified gas tank, monitoring Korotkoff sounds that appear and disappear during cuff pressurization to ascertain approximate systolic and diastolic blood pressures as cuff pressurization is in process, halting pressurization at a point slightly higher than the approximate systolic blood pressure and then immediately depressurizing the cuff at a regulated rate to actually measure and determine true systolic blood pressure. Following the determination of systolic blood pressure, the cuff is depressurized at a rapid rate down to a point slightly higher than the approximate diastolic blood pressure and is then depressurized again at the regulated rate again to actually measure and determine true diastolic blood pressure. When a Korotkoff sound cannot be found during attempted actual measurement of the diastolic blood pressure, the currently prevailing cuff pressure is raised by a predetermined amount and the cuff is then vented again at the regulated rate to remeasure and redetermine diastolic blood pressure for the purpose of covering any fluctuation in the patient's blood pressure.