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:
Mar. 04, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2006
Jonathan S. Maltz, Oakland, CA (US);
Thomas F. Budinger, Berkeley, CA (US);
Jonathan S. Maltz, Oakland, CA (US);
Thomas F. Budinger, Berkeley, CA (US);
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
A 'relaxoscope' () detects the degree of arterial endothelial function. Impairment of arterial endothelial function is an early event in atherosclerosis and correlates with the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. An artery (), such as the brachial artery (BA) is measured for diameter before and after several minutes of either vasoconstriction or vasorelaxation. The change in arterial diameter is a measure of flow-mediated vasomodification (FMVM). The relaxoscope induces an artificial pulse () at a superficial radial artery () via a linear actuator (). An ultrasonic Doppler stethoscope () detects this pulse 10-20 cm proximal to the point of pulse induction (). The delay between pulse application and detection provides the pulse transit time (PTT). By measuring PTT before () and after arterial diameter change (), FMVM may be measured based on the changes in PTT caused by changes in vessel caliber, smooth muscle tone and wall thickness.