Patent ID: 6315734
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for obtaining an information relating to a propagation velocity of a pulse wave which propagates through an artery of a living subject, comprising:a first signal detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a first portion of the subject and which detects a first signal generated from the first portion in synchronism with a heart beat of the subject;a pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject and which detects, as a second signal, a notch of said pulse wave generated from the second portion in synchronism with said heart beat of the subject;a pressing device which is adapted to be worn on a third portion of the subject to press the third portion, the third portion being on a downstream side relative to the second portion of the subject with respect to said artery and being in proximity to the second portion; andpulse-wave propagation time determining means for determining, as said information, a time difference between a time when said first signal is detected by the first signal detecting device and a time when said notch of the pulse wave is detected by the pulse-wave detecting device in a state in which the third portion of the subject is pressed by the pressing device.