Patent ID: 7125383
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring of blood pressure in an artery of a patient, comprising the following steps: (a) transmitting beams of ultrasonic wave energy that intersect the artery; (b) acquiring acoustic data by transducing ultrasound wave energy, transmitted and returned from the artery wall, the blood flowing through the artery and the tissue surrounding the artery, into electrical signals; (c) estimating the diameter of the artery based on a first set of the acquired acoustic data; (d) calculating the arterial lumen area based on the estimated arterial diameter; (e) estimating the velocity of a pulse wave traveling down the artery based on a second set of the acquired acoustic data, wherein estimating the velocity further comprises correcting for reflections of the pulse wave that travel up the artery; and (f) computing the blood pressure as a function of the estimated lumen area, the estimated pulse wave velocity and respective reference values for blood pressure and lumen area.