HOME MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD PRESSURE: PRESENT PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS

Authors

  • Jiri Jilek
  • Milan Stork

Keywords:

blood pressure, home measurement, oscillometric method, empiric algorithms, experimental system, hemodynamics of hypertension

Abstract

The most frequently performed health test is the measurement of blood pressure. Popularity of home measurement increased substantially with the introduction of inexpensive automatic instruments to the market. Accurate measurement of blood pressure is important for diagnosis and management of hypertension. Inaccuracies of measurement with automatic oscillometric instruments are caused by wrong size cuff and by errors in algorithmic measurement. The authors developed several perspective improvements in the measurement of systolic pressure. An experimental system for acquisition and processing of arterial pressure pulses facilitated the development of these methods. More accurate measurement of the systolic pressure was achieved with a dual-cuff method. A new method of wrist-cuff pulse analysis facilitated estimation of hemodynamics. Estimation of hemodynamics simultaneously with measurement of blood pressure provides the physician with more complete picture of the type of hypertension and it facilitates better diagnosis and management. An inexpensive commercial instrument based on the methods developed by the authors could be used by the patient in home care.

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Published

2012-12-31

Issue

Section

Original Research