Patent ID: 6488633
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A device for application to a body part of a patient to determine the physiological condition of the patient, comprising:a housing for receiving the body part; pressurizing means for applying a pressure field around the body part when received in said housing; and a sensor for sensing changes in said body part related to changes in blood volume therein, wherein said housing includes at least three contiguous but separate sections including a distal end section at a distal end of said housing, a proximal end section at a proximal end of said housing, and at least one middle section between said distal and proximal end sections, and wherein said pressurizing means applies a pressure field to portions of the body part received within at least said distal end section and said middle section of the housing, and said sensor senses changes in the portion of said body part received within said middle section of the housing.