Automated fitted cuff blood pressure and arm circumference measuring device
Inventors
McMillan, Bjorn • Erceg, David • Flammer, Jeffrey D. • Nunez, Rene • Hill, Colin Kenneth • Collins, John R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10709340-B2
Publication Date
2020-07-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A blood pressure device having a cylindrical drum cuff housing adapted to measure the circumference of either a right or left arm and administer a blood pressure test. The drum cuff housing is connected to a knuckle support assembly adapted to provide freedom of movement for postural positioning before and during the blood pressure test.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a blood pressure device that uses a cylindrical drum cuff together with a direct drive reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a motor entirely inside of a reel that rotates the reel, and an encoder mounted to the motor. A flexible lead band material is connected to and wraps around the reel, with a sensor associated with the flexible lead band material, and a motor control board determines a positive arm circumference stop and a second pre-set stop based on signals from the encoder.
The blood pressure device is configured to operate with a blood pressure module to acquire biometric data. The flexible lead band material is associated with an inner air bladder, and the bladder is attached to an inner surface of the flexible lead band material. The lead band also supports sensor integration selected from an analog bar label, an infrared sensor, and/or an encoder, while the motor control board coordinates biometric-data acquisition by controlling lead-band stops and the operation associated with the blood pressure module.
The invention further provides an arm-supporting mechanical system for postural positioning during a blood pressure test. A knuckle support assembly is attached to the cylindrical drum cuff housing and is housed in a flexible bellows, providing freedom of movement for postural positioning before and during a blood pressure test, including tilting with spring tension, sliding, and rotation to support alignment of an arm relative to heart level. Protective cuff fit features include a protective skirt with embedded rigid plastic and cuff housing covers for metal hoops to provide an ergonomic cuff fit while preventing pinching.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims that share a cylindrical drum cuff and a direct-drive reel assembly with an internal motor and an encoder, and that cover operation with a blood pressure module to acquire biometric data. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on encoder-based determination of arm circumference stops, a knuckle support assembly in a flexible bellows for postural positioning, and a flexible lead band with a selected sensor and an inner bladder attached to an inner surface of the lead band material.
Encoder-based determination of arm circumference stops with a direct drive reel
A blood pressure device comprises a cylindrical drum cuff, a direct drive reel assembly having a motor entirely inside of a reel that rotates the reel and an encoder mounted to the motor, a flexible lead band material connected to and wraps around the reel with a sensor associated with the flexible lead band material, and a motor control board that determines a positive arm circumference stop and a second pre-set stop based on signals from the encoder, wherein the blood pressure device is configured to operate with a blood pressure module to acquire biometric data.
Knuckle support assembly in a flexible bellow for postural positioning
A blood pressure device comprises a cylindrical drum cuff housing, a direct drive reel assembly having a motor entirely inside of a reel that rotates the reel and an encoder mounted to the motor, a knuckle support assembly attached to the cylindrical drum cuff housing and adapted to provide freedom of movement for postural positioning before and during a blood pressure test, and a flexible bellow that houses the knuckle support assembly, wherein the blood pressure device is configured to operate with a blood pressure module to acquire biometric data.
Flexible lead band bladder system with sensor selected from analog bar label, infrared sensor, and encoder
A blood pressure device comprises a cylindrical drum cuff housing, a direct drive reel assembly that includes a motor entirely inside of a reel to rotate the reel and an encoder mounted to the motor, a flexible lead band material connected to and wrapped around the reel, a sensor associated with the flexible lead band material selected from group consisting of an analog bar label, an infrared sensor, and an encoder, and a bladder attached to an inner surface of the flexible lead band material, wherein the blood pressure device is configured to operate with a blood pressure module to acquire biometric data.
Across the independent claims, the covered invention combines an automated cylindrical drum cuff architecture with a direct-drive internal motor and encoder, and it configures biometric-data acquisition via a blood pressure module. The primary claim-differentiators are encoder-based determination of arm circumference stops, incorporation of a knuckle support assembly in a flexible bellows for postural positioning, and the selection of a sensor type associated with the flexible lead band together with a bladder attached to the inner surface of the lead band material.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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