Patent ID: 6517493
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring a blood pressure of an inferior limb of a living subject, comprising:a blood-pressure measuring device which includes an inflatable cuff adapted to be wound around the inferior limb and which measures, with the cuff, the blood pressure of the inferior limb of the subject; an input device which is operable for inputting at least one characteristic value characteristic of the subject and which produces at least one signal representing the at least one input characteristic value; map selecting means for selecting, based on the input characteristic value, one of a plurality of predetermined maps each of which defines, in a coordinate system having a first axis representing blood pressure and a second axis representing information relating to velocity of propagation of pulse wave through blood vessel, a calcification range indicating calcification of the blood vessel; an information obtaining device which obtains information relating to a velocity of propagation of a pulse wave which propagates between two different portions of the subject that include a portion of the inferior limb around which the inflatable cuff is wound; and judging means for judging whether the measured blood pressure and the obtained information fall in the calcification range of the selected map, and thereby judging whether at least one blood vessel running in said portion of the inferior limb has been calcified to such a degree that a blood flow through the blood vessel cannot be stopped by the inflatable cuff.