Patent ID: 6676608
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of monitoring the cardiovascular condition of an individual to determine the presence of arteriosclerosis in the individual, comprising:detecting an ECG signal of the individual's heart; detecting a blood front wave in a peripheral artery of the individual; measuring the time lag between the start of said detected blood front wave and the peak of the R-wave in the ECG signal; examining the shape of said blood front wave by analyzing its power spectral density to determine the ratio of the high-frequency power component SHF to the low frequency power components (SLS); and comparing said shape of the blood front wave with a reference corresponding to the shape of the blood front wave in a healthy person to provide, from the measured time lag and the comparison of said shapes, an indication of the presence of arteriosclerosis in the individual.