The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1998
James A Nolan, Conifer, CO (US);
Trevor J Moody, New York, NY (US);
Other;
Abstract
Continuous, non-invasive method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure parameters and the like are disclosed. One disclosed apparatus includes an earpiece for sealing an individual's ear canal so that arterial blood pressure changes adjacent the sealed ear canal produce air pressure changes in the sealed ear canal. The apparatus further includes pressure sensing means for measuring the air pressure changes in the sealed ear canal and producing a signal related to the measured air pressure changes. In addition, the apparatus preferably includes processing means for processing the signal to measure blood pressure parameters, as well as means for displaying and/or recording the processed signal. The method may be used to determine heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac function, circulatory function, and other parameters. To obtain absolute pressure readings, two sensors, one in each ear, may be used to monitor pulse time transit delay.