Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-07-02)
Rejection types: 101 - Patent-Eligible Subject Matter, 102 - Lack of Novelty, 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

1\. A sphygmomanometer provided with an air system for use in blood pressure measurement and capable of performing air leakage testing on the air system, the sphygmomanometer comprising:
a main control unit configured to perform main control to make a transition from a power-off state to a standby state in response to a power-on operation, to perform blood pressure measurement using the air system in response to a measurement start operation in the standby state and make a transition to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement, and to make a transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state;
an air leakage testing unit configured to perform air leakage testing on the air system to obtain an air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing;
a storage unit configured to store the air leakage testing result; and
a notification control unit configured to perform notification control to make displaying, on a display device, the air leakage testing result stored in the storage unit in a first display mode during the transition from the power-off state to the standby state or a transition from the power-off state to a non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, or during the transition from the standby state to the power-off state or a transition from the standby state to the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, and not to make displaying the air leakage testing result or to make displaying the air leakage testing result in a second display mode lower in degree of enhancement than the first display mode in the standby state or during the blood pressure measurement.
2\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein when a display stop operation is performed or a predetermined period elapses after having started to make displaying the air leakage testing result, the notification control unit makes the transition from the power-off state to the standby state or the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled or the transition from the standby state to the power-off state or the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, and
stops the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode.
3\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the air leakage testing result includes at least three air leakage levels of a first air leakage level indicating that an air leakage amount of the air system is smaller than a predetermined first reference value, a third air leakage level indicating that the air leakage amount of the air system is larger than a second reference value set greater than the first reference value, and a second air leakage level indicating that the air leakage amount of the air system corresponds to a value between the first reference value and the second reference value, and
the notification control unit performs the notification control only when the air leakage testing result is the second air leakage level among the three air leakage levels, does not display the air leakage testing result when the air leakage testing result is the first air leakage level, and makes displaying, on the display device, an indication that the blood pressure measurement is disabled when the air leakage testing result is the third air leakage level.
4\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the air leakage testing unit performs the air leakage testing on the air system in conjunction with the blood pressure measurement, and
each time the air leakage testing is performed on the air system, the storage unit stores the air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing.
5\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 4, further comprising a cuff unit having a cylindrical shape for an upper arm to be inserted, wherein the cuff unit includes an outer peripheral member having a cylindrical shape, a winding air bag annularly disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the outer peripheral member, a curler formed of a flexible plate material curved and disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the winding air bag, the curler being reduced in diameter when the winding air bag is pressurized to expand radially inward, and a measurement air bag disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the curler, the measurement air bag being pressurized for the blood pressure measurement to compress the upper arm, and
the air leakage testing unit obtains the air leakage testing result based on a pressure difference between a pressure in the winding air bag and a pressure in the measurement air bag at a time when a blood pressure calculation is completed in a depressurization process for the blood pressure measurement.
6\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode is made as a display of a message indicating a measure against the air leakage testing result, and
the displaying the air leakage testing result in the second display mode is made as a display of an icon corresponding to the air leakage testing result.
7\. The sphygmomanometer according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode is made as a display where an icon corresponding to the air leakage testing result blinks, and
the displaying the air leakage testing result in the second display mode is made as a display where the icon is kept lit.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed 20 September 2021 fails to comply with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97, 1.98 and MPEP § 609 because the foreign patent documents that have been crossed out do not include an English translation. It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered as to the merits.  Applicant is advised that the date of any re-submission of any item of information contained in this information disclosure statement or the submission of any missing element(s) will be the date of submission for purposes of determining compliance with the requirements based on the time of filing the statement, including all certification requirements for statements under 37 CFR 1.97(e).  See MPEP § 609.05(a).
It is noted that 14 foreign patent documents have been filed. However, only 7 of the foreign patent documents were listed on the IDS filed 20 September 2021.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 2 are objected to because of the following informalities:
“the standby state or a transition” in lines 15-16 of claim 1 should read as “the standby state, during a transition”
“disabled, or during the transition” in line 17 of claim 1 should read as “disabled, during the transition”
“the power-off state or a transition” in line 18 of claim 1 should read as “the power-off state, during a transition”
“testing result or to make” in line 20 of claim 1 should read as “testing result, or to make”
“the standby state or the non-blood pressure measurement state” in lines 4-5 of claim 2 should read as “the standby state or to the non-blood pressure measurement state”
“operation is disabled or the transition” in lines 5-6 of claim 2 should read as “operation is disabled, or makes the transition”
“the power-off state or the non-blood” in line 6 of claim 2 should read as “the power-off state or to the non-blood”
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.  The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A)	the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B)	the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C)	the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.  Such claim limitation(s) is/are: main control unit, air leakage testing unit, storage unit, notification control unit, and display device in claims 1-5.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
“main control unit” is interpreted as a CPU as mentioned in [0066] of the PGPUB
“air leakage testing unit” is interpreted as a CPU as mentioned in [0076]-[0077] of the PGPUB
“storage unit” is interpreted as a memory as mentioned in [0067] of the PGPUB
“notification control unit” is interpreted as a CPU as mentioned in [0079] of the PGPUB
“display device” is interpreted as a liquid crystal display (LCD) as mentioned in [0046] of the PGPUB
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may:  (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claims 2-7 are further rejected due to their dependency to claim 1.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “degree of enhancement.” Although the disclosure recites “degree of enhancement,” the disclosure fails to provide a clear description of what “degree of enhancement” means. As such, it is also unclear what “degree of enhancement” means.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 2, 4, and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claims 3, 5, and 7 are further rejected due to their dependency to claim 1.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the transition from the standby state to the power-off state” in lines 17-18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This limitation was not previously mentioned in claim 1. It is unclear what limitation “the transition from the standby state to the power-off state” is referring to. It is unclear if this limitation is referring to “transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state.” Clarification is requested.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “degree of enhancement” in line 21. It is unclear what “degree of enhancement” is. The disclosure also fails to provide a clear description of “degree of enhancement.” Clarification is requested.
Claim 2 recites the notification control unit making a transition from the power-off state to another state after a display operation is performed or a predetermined period elapses after displaying the air leakage testing result. However, it is unclear how the notification control unit starts in the power-off state as the notification control unit has to be on in order to perform the display stop operation and to display the air leakage testing result. Clarification is requested.
Claim 4 recites “the air leakage testing unit performs the air leakage testing on the air system in conjunction with the blood pressure measurement” in lines 2-3. It is unclear what it means for the testing to be performed “in conjunction with” the blood pressure measurement. “In conjunction with” means “together with” to one of ordinary skill. It is unclear if this means that the air leakage testing happens “at the same time” as the blood pressure measurement or if the air leakage testing is performed on the same system as the blood pressure measurement. Clarification is requested.
Claim 6 recites “a measure against the air leakage testing result” in line 3. It is unclear what “a measure against the air leakage testing result” is. Clarification is requested.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Section 33(a) of the America Invents Act reads as follows:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no patent may issue on a claim directed to or encompassing a human organism.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 and section 33(a) of the America Invents Act as being directed to or encompassing a human organism.  See also Animals - Patentability, 1077 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 24 (April 21, 1987) (indicating that human organisms are excluded from the scope of patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101). Claim 5 recites “a cuff unit having a cylindrical shape for an upper arm to be inserted” in lines 1-2. However, this limitation claims a human organism as the limitation recites that the upper arm needs to be inserted into the cuff unit. To overcome this 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection, Examiner suggests to amend the limitation to recite “a cuff unit having a cylindrical shape configured to insert an upper arm.”
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) as a whole, considering all claim elements both individually and in combination, do not amount to significantly more than an abstract idea. A streamlined analysis of claim 1 follows.
STEP 1
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites a series of structural elements, including a main control unit. Thus, the claim is directed to a machine, which is one of the statutory categories of invention.
STEP 2A, PRONG ONE
The claim is then analyzed to determine whether it is directed to any judicial exception. The step of:
a main control unit configured to perform main control to make a transition from a power-off state to a standby state in response to a power-on operation, to perform blood pressure measurement using the air system in response to a measurement start operation in the standby state and make a transition to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement, and to make a transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state
sets forth a judicial exception. This step describes a concept performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion). Thus, the claim is drawn to a Mental Process, which is an Abstract Idea.
STEP 2A, PRONG TWO
Next, the claim as a whole is analyzed to determine whether the claim recites additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. The claim fails to recite an additional element or a combination of additional elements to apply, rely on, or use the judicial exception in a manner that imposes a meaningful limitation on the judicial exception. Claim 1 recites a storage unit configured to store the air leakage testing result and a notification control unit configured to perform notification control to make displaying, on a display device, the air leakage testing result stored in the storage unit in a first display mode during the transition from the power-off state to the standby state or a transition from the power-off state to a non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, or during the transition from the standby state to the power-off state or a transition from the standby state to the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, and not to make displaying the air leakage testing result or to make displaying the air leakage testing result in a second display mode lower in degree of enhancement than the first display mode in the standby state or during the blood pressure measurement, which is merely adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (MPEP 2106.05(g)). The storing of the air leakage testing result and display of the air leakage testing result does not provide an improvement to the technological field, the method does not effect a particular treatment or effect a particular change based on the stored air leakage testing result and displayed air leakage testing result, nor does the method use a particular machine to perform the Abstract Idea.
The device recited in claim 1 is a generic device comprising generic components configured to perform the abstract idea. The recited air leakage testing unit is a generic sensor configured to perform pre-solutional data gathering activity, the notification control unit and display device are generic devices configured to perform the extra-solution activity of displaying a result, and the main control unit is configured to perform the Abstract Idea. According to section 2106.05(f) of the MPEP, merely using a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea does not integrate the Abstract Idea into a practical application.
STEP 2B
Next, the claim as a whole is analyzed to determine whether any element, or combination of elements, is sufficient to ensure that the claim amounts to significantly more than the exception. Besides the Abstract Idea, the claim recites additional step of an air leakage testing unit configured to perform air leakage testing on the air system to obtain an air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing. Obtaining data is well-understood, routine and conventional activity for those in the field of medical diagnostics (see 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) rejection as Mori et al. ‘950 teaches obtaining an air leakage testing result). Further, the obtaining step is recited at a high level of generality such that it amounts to insignificant presolution activity, e.g., mere data gathering step necessary to perform the Abstract Idea. When recited at this high level of generality, there is no meaningful limitation, such as a particular or unconventional step that distinguishes it from well-understood, routine, and conventional data gathering activity engaged in by medical professionals prior to Applicant's invention. Furthermore, it is well established that the mere physical or tangible nature of additional elements such as the obtaining and comparing steps do not automatically confer eligibility on a claim directed to an abstract idea (see, e.g., Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int'l, 134 S.Ct. 2347, 2358-59 (2014)).
Consideration of the additional elements as a combination also adds no other meaningful limitations to the exception not already present when the elements are considered separately. Unlike the eligible claim in Diehr in which the elements limiting the exception are individually conventional, but taken together act in concert to improve a technical field, the claim here does not provide an improvement to the technical field. Even when viewed as a combination, the additional elements fail to transform the exception into a patent-eligible application of that exception. Thus, the claim as a whole does not amount to significantly more than the exception itself. The claim is therefore drawn to non-statutory subject matter.
The dependent claims also fail to add something more to the abstract independent claims. Claim 2 recites the extra-solution activity of turning off the system. Claim 3 recites conditions of the air leakage testing result, which is merely comparing the measured data to reference values, which is a mental process. The notification step of claim 3 adds to the extra-solution activity of displaying. Claim 4 merely recites the pre-solution data gathering activity step is performed in conjunction with a mental processing step, measuring blood pressure. The storage step is merely extra-solution activity.  Claim 5 merely recites the components of the cuff unit, which is not WURC (see 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) rejection) and obtaining the air leakage testing result, which is a pre-solution activity of data gathering. Claims 6 and 7 recite the extra-solution activity of displaying data. The comparing and calculating steps recited in the independent claims maintain a high level of generality even when considered in combination with the dependent claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1 and 3-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mori et al. ‘950 (US Pub No. 2019/0104950, foreign priority date 23 June 2016).
Regarding claim 1, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches a sphygmomanometer provided with an air system for use in blood pressure measurement (Title, Abstract) and capable of performing air leakage testing on the air system ([0106]; “determines whether or not the air leakage amount is acceptable”), the sphygmomanometer comprising:
a main control unit (Fig. 3 control unit 2 and [0076]) configured to perform main control to make a transition from a power-off state to a standby state in response to a power-on operation ([0080]; “The user can input instructions such as turning on and off the power”), to perform blood pressure measurement using the air system in response to a measurement start operation in the standby state ([0080]; “The user can input instructions such as…starting blood pressure measurement” The user instructs the device to begin measurement, indicating that the device is turned on and on standby.) and make a transition to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement ([0095]; “the cuff pressure is released. Then, as shown in step S8, the CPU 10 functions as the display processing unit to display the measurement result” Because blood pressure measurement is completed, as marked by displaying the measurement result, this is interpreted as going to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement.), and to make a transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state ([0080]; “The user can input instructions such as turning on and off the power”);
an air leakage testing unit configured to perform air leakage testing on the air system to obtain an air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing (Fig. 3 control unit and [0106]; “determines whether or not the air leakage amount is acceptable”);
a storage unit configured to store the air leakage testing result (Fig. 3 storage apparatus 8 and [0081], [0108]); and
a notification control unit configured to perform notification control to make displaying, on a display device (Fig. 3 output unit 4 and [0113]), the air leakage testing result stored in the storage unit in a first display mode during the transition from the power-off state to the standby state or a transition from the power-off state to a non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled ([0108]; “the control unit 2 reads out the accumulated total measurement instance count N stored in the storage apparatus 8 shown in Fig. 3 and compares it with a predetermined upper limit instance count UL”), or during the transition from the standby state to the power-off state or a transition from the standby state to the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled (Due to the “or” language, it is found that Mori et al. ‘950 teaches one of the recited transitions.), and not to make displaying the air leakage testing result or to make displaying the air leakage testing result in a second display mode lower in degree of enhancement than the first display mode in the standby state (Fig. 16 and [0114]; It is noted that it is unclear what “degree of enhancement” is. To best to the Examiner’s understanding, “degree of enhancement” is interpreted as a window on the display.) or during the blood pressure measurement (Due to the “or” language, it is found that Mori et al. ‘950 teaches one of the recited conditions for displaying.).
Regarding claim 3, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches wherein the air leakage testing result includes at least three air leakage levels of a first air leakage level indicating that an air leakage amount of the air system is smaller than a predetermined first reference value (Fig. 14 lower limit value a3 and [0107]), a third air leakage level indicating that the air leakage amount of the air system is larger than a second reference value set greater than the first reference value (Fig. 14 upper limit value a4 and [0107]), and a second air leakage level indicating that the air leakage amount of the air system corresponds to a value between the first reference value and the second reference value ([0107]; “If the calculated air discharge rate PSx is a lower limit value a3 or more and an upper limit value a4 or less, it is determined as being “acceptable.””), and
the notification control unit performs the notification control only when the air leakage testing result is the second air leakage level among the three air leakage levels ([0107]; “If the calculated air discharge rate PSx is a lower limit value a3 or more and an upper limit value a4 or less, it is determined as being “acceptable.””), does not display the air leakage testing result when the air leakage testing result is the first air leakage level (Fig. 17 shows the air leakage amount being “acceptable”), and makes displaying, on the display device, an indication that the blood pressure measurement is disabled when the air leakage testing result is the third air leakage level (Fig. 8 shows that blood pressure measurement is performed when the apparatus is not in the diagnosis mode ([0097]). When the diagnosis result is outputted in S15, the first, second, and third air leakage levels are displayed and the blood pressure measurement is still disabled.).
Regarding claim 4, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches wherein the air leakage testing unit performs the air leakage testing on the air system in conjunction with the blood pressure measurement (To best of the Examiner’s understanding, Fig. 8 shows that blood pressure measurement, S16, can be used on the same system as air leakage testing S13.), and
each time the air leakage testing is performed on the air system, the storage unit stores the air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing ([0108]).
Regarding claim 5, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches a cuff unit having a cylindrical shape for an upper arm to be inserted (Fig. 6 cuff 24br and [0065]; Fig. 10A shows the cuff 24br having a cylindrical shape.), wherein the cuff unit includes an outer peripheral member having a cylindrical shape (The outside portion of cuff 24br is interpreted as the outer peripheral member.), a winding air bag annularly disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the outer peripheral member (Fig. 7 sheets 408A, 408B and [0067]), a curler formed of a flexible plate material curved and disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the winding air bag (Fig. 6 curler 402 and [0065], [0068]), the curler being reduced in diameter when the winding air bag is pressurized to expand radially inward ([0067] teaches that the two sheets 408A and 408B are supplied with air, indicating that two sheets 408A and 408B expand. One of ordinary skill would understand that when the two sheets 408A and 408B expand, the curler 402 compresses as both components are within the predefined space of the cuff 24br.), and a measurement air bag disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the curler (Fig. 6 fluid bladder 21br and [0065]), the measurement air bag being pressurized for the blood pressure measurement to compress the upper arm ([0083]), and
the air leakage testing unit obtains the air leakage testing result based on a pressure difference between a pressure in the winding air bag and a pressure in the measurement air bag at a time when a blood pressure calculation is completed in a depressurization process for the blood pressure measurement ([0106]; Pressure is measured at time t1 and time t2, indicating that blood pressure is measured after measurement has been completed.).
Regarding claim 6, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches wherein the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode is made as a display of a message indicating a measure against the air leakage testing result (Fig. 17 and [0115], [0117]; “overall results”), and
the displaying the air leakage testing result in the second display mode is made as a display of an icon corresponding to the air leakage testing result (Fig. 16 and [0113]; “o” and “x”).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mori et al. ‘950 in view of Matsumura et al. ‘709 (US Pub No. 2010/0331709).
Regarding claim 2, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches all of the elements of the current invention as mentioned above except for wherein when a display stop operation is performed or a predetermined period elapses after having started to make displaying the air leakage testing result, the notification control unit makes the transition from the power-off state to the standby state or the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled or the transition from the standby state to the power-off state or the non-blood pressure measurement state where the measurement start operation is disabled, and stops the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode.
Mori et al. ‘950 teaches the user can input instructions such as turning on and off the power ([0080]).
Matsumura et al. ‘709 teaches when a display stop operation is performed ([0100]; “the input of command to turn OFF the power”), the notification control unit makes the transition from the standby state to the power-off state ([0100]; “the blood pressure information measurement device is in a standby state, and stops the supply of power as the power supply after waiting for the input of command to turn OFF the power by the operation unit of the subject”), and stops the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode (When the supply of power is stopped, then no power is supplied to the device and cannot continue to display any result.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the sphygmomanometer of Mori et al. ‘950 to include when a display stop operation is performed, the notification control unit makes the transition from the standby state to the power-off state, and stops the displaying the air leakage result in the first display mode as Matsumura et al. ‘709 teaches as this would be combining prior art elements according to known methods to yield predictable results (turning off the device).
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mori et al. ‘950 in view of Tseng ‘329 (US Pub No. 2008/0319329).
Regarding claim 7, Mori et al. ‘950 teaches all of the elements of the current invention as mentioned above except for wherein the displaying the air leakage testing result in the first display mode is made as a display where an icon corresponding to the air leakage testing result blinks, and
the displaying the air leakage testing result in the second display mode is made as a display where the icon is kept lit.
Tseng ‘329 teaches an output unit such as a display device through other multimedia means such as turning on and off of light (Interpreted as “the icon is kept lit”), blinking of light, voice announcement, audio broadcasting, or the like ([0013]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the displaying of the air leakage testing result in the first display mode and in the second display mode of Mori et al. ‘950 to include being made as a display when an icon corresponding to the air leakage testing result blinks and being made as a display where the icon is kept lit, respectively, as Tseng ‘329 teaches that turning on and off of light and blinking of light would both indicate the measurement result.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1-8 are pending in this application. By this Amendment, claims 1-7 are amended, and claim 8 is new. Support for the amendments to the claims may be found throughout the original application, for example, in [0012], [0015]-[0017], [0020], [0028]- [0029], [0032], [0038]-[0039], [0043]-[0053], [0059], [0061], [0063], [0064]-[0072], [0083]- [0084], and [0087]-[0088] and in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 9-13. No new matter is added.
In view of the foregoing amendments and following remarks, reconsideration and allowance are respectfully requested.
I.    Interview
The courtesies extended to Applicant's representative by Examiner Tu during the
telephone interview held September 18, 2024 are appreciated. The reasons presented during the interview as warranting favorable action are incorporated into the remarks below, which constitute Applicant's record of the interview. II.   Claim Objections
The Office Action objects to claims 1 and 2 for an informality. Claims 1 and 2 are
amended. Specifically, in the amended Claims 1, 2, terms of the "first transition", the "second transition" and the "third transition" are introduced, and the "notification control" is specified in different cases by using these terms. Accordingly, as tentatively agreed during the interview, reconsideration and withdrawal of the objection are respectfully requested. III. Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. §101
The Office Action rejects claims 1-7 under 35 U.S.C. § 101 for allegedly being directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Claim 5 is rejected under section 101. Claim 1 is amended to recite
"a cuff configured to surround a to-be-measured part"
and the limitation is removed from claim 5.
Claim 1 is also amended to recite
"the air system comprising at least a cuff configured to su
rr
ound a to-be-measured part, a pump connected to the cuff via a first fluid pipe, and a valve connected to the cuff via a second fluid pipe."
The cuff, pump, and valve are substantive elements and not an abstract idea.
In addition, by reciting "to perform blood pressure measurement
by driving the pump to feed an air to the cuff through the first fluid pipe to pressurize the cuff or driving the valve to exhaust the air from the cuff through the second fluid pipe to depressurize the cuff,"
the alleged abstract idea is integrated into a practical application.
Further, the alleged abstract idea is integrated into a practical application by the
recitation of
"the processor is configured to act as:"
"an air leakage testing unit ... to perform,
during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition,
air leakage testing on the air system"
In addition, the notification control is amended to include "when the air leakage
testing result is..." thereby integrating the alleged abstract idea into a practical application.
Accordingly, as tentatively agreed during the interview, reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection are requested. IV.    Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. §112(a)
The Office Action rejects claim 1 as failing to comply with the written description requirement under 35 U.S.C. § 112(a).
By this Amendment, claim 1 is amended to obviate the rejection and instead recite "in a second display mode more inconspicuous than the first display mode."
This is described in paragraph [0071] and shown in Figs. 15, 16. Another example of "in a second display mode more inconspicuous than the first display mode" is described in a paragraph [0076] and shown in Figs. 17A, 17C. In this example, as discussed during the interview, because ICl is blinking in Fig. 17A, ICl of Fig. 17C is more inconspicuous.
Accordingly, "inconspicuous" can be understood by a person skilled in the art based on the specification.
Accordingly, as tentatively agreed during the interview, reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection are requested.
V.
Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. §112(b)
The Office Action rejects claims 1, 2, 4, and 6 as being indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b). By this Amendment, the claims are amended to obviate the rejection.
With respect to "the transition from the standby state to the power-off state," claim 1 is amended to recite ""a main control unit ...", "a
fir
st
transition from a power-off state to a standby state in response to a power-on operation", "a
second
transition to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement", and "a
third
transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state."
With respect to "degree of enhancement," claim 1 is instead amended to recite "in a second display mode lower in degree of enhancement than the first display mode",
"in
a
second display mode more inconspicuous than the first display mode."
With respect to the indefiniteness rejection of claim 2, claim 2 is amended to recite
"the first or third
transition."
With respect to the indefiniteness rejection of claim 4, claim 1 is amended to recite "an air leakage testing unit to perform,
during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition
,
air leakage testing on the air system." In conformity with this, the second paragraph (lines 2-3) of original Claim 4 is removed. Claim 4 now recites the air leakage testing on the air system is performed
during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition.
With respect to the indefiniteness rejection of claim 6, "a message indicating a measure against the air leakage testing result" is changed into "a message
notifyin
g a
replacement of the cuff".
An example of the "message notifying a replacement of the cuff" is described in a paragraph [0068] and shown in Fig. 14.
Accordingly, as tentatively agreed during the interview, reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection are requested. VI.   Claim Interpretation Under 35 U.S.C. §112(f)
The Office Action interprets claim elements as means-plus-function language under 35 U.S.C. §112(0.
While Applicant does not necessarily agree with this interpretation, by this Amendment, claims 1-7 amended to not invoke § 112(0.
Claim 1 recites a processor, wherein the processor is configured to act as... "a main control unit to perform ...", "an air leakage testing unit to perform ...", and "a notification control unit to perform ..." are recited.
Claims 4, 5, and 8 are similarly amended.
In addition, "a storage unit" and "a display device" are removed and specified as "a memory" and "a display", respectively.
Accordingly, as tentatively agreed during the interview, reconsideration and withdrawal of the means-plus-function interpretation are respectfully requested. VII.  Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. §102 and §103
The Office Action rejects:
"  claims 1 and 3-6 under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) over U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2019/0104950 (" Mori");
"  claim 2 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over Mori in view of U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2010/0331709 ("Matsumura"); and
"  claim 2 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over Mori in view of U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2008/0319329 ("Tseng"). Applicant respectfully traverses the rejections.
By this Amendment, claim 1 is amended to recite: "the air leakage testing result
includes at least three air leakage levels..." and the notification control includes: when the air leakage testing result is..." As tentatively agreed during the interview, the asserted references do not teach or suggest at least this claim feature.
With respect to original claim 3 (portions of which are incorporated into proposed claim 1), the Office Action asserts that Mori teaches air leakage testing result includes three leakage levels.
Mori teaches:
" The first air leakage level indicates that an air leakage amount in the air system is smaller
than a reference value (an "unacceptable" leakage);
"  The third air leakage level indicates that the air leakage amount is larger than a second
reference value greater than the first(an "acceptable" leakage); and
"  The second air leakage level indicates that the air leakage amount corresponds to a value
between the first and second reference values (an "unacceptable" leakage). In contrast, in proposed claim 1 recites:
"  The first air leakage level is an
acceptable level-
indicating that an air leakage amount is
smaller than a predetermined first reference value;
"  The third air leakage level is a
failure level,
indicating that the air leakage amount is
larger than a second reference value set greater than the first reference value; and
"  The second air leakage level indicates that the air leakage amount corresponds to a value
between the first reference value and second reference value.
Accordingly, Mori teaches only one acceptable leakage and two unacceptable
leakages. In contrast, in proposed claim 1, the first air leakage level is "acceptable", and the third air leakage level is "unacceptable". The second air leakage level corresponds to a level between the first air leakage level and the third air leakage level, that is, an initial stage where
air has just started to leak from the air systems. See paragraph [0059] of the present application.
Claim 1 further recites that the "notification control" is specified for different cases (i.e., during the first transition, in the standby state, during the blood pressure measurement and the second transition, and during the third transition) when the air leakage testing result is the second air leakage level. Mori et al. '950 (and the other cited documents) neither teaches nor suggests the "notification control" specified in the amended Claim 1.
For at least the foregoing reasons, the asserted references do not anticipate, and would not have rendered obvious claim 1. Claims 2-7 depend from claim 1 and, thus, also are not anticipated by and would not have been rendered obvious by the asserted references.
Accordingly, reconsideration and withdrawal of the rejection are respectfully requested. VIII. New Claim
By this Amendment, new claim 8 is presented. New claim 8 depends from claim 1 and, thus, distinguishes over the applied references for at least the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 1, as well as for the additional features that it recites. Prompt examination and allowance of new claim 8 are respectfully requested.
IX.   Conclusion

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
Claims 1-8 are currently pending. Claims 1-7 have been amended. Claim 8 has been added. The amendments to claims 1 and 2 have rendered the claim objections, the amendments to claim 1 have rendered the 35 U.S.C. 112(a) rejection, and the amendments to claim 1, 2, 4, and 6 have rendered the 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejections set forth in the Non-Final Office Action moot. The amendments have rendered the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) claim interpretations moot.
Claim Objections
Claims 6 and 7 are objected to because of the following informalities:
“the displaying” in line 2 of claim 6 should read as “the displaying of”
“mode is made as a displaying of a message notifying” in lines 2-3 of claim 6 should read as “mode is displaying a message to notify”
“the displaying” in line 2 of claim 7 should read as “the displaying of”
“mode is made as a displaying where” in lines 2-3 of claim 7 should read as “mode is displaying”
“the displaying” in line 4 of claim 7 should read as “the displaying of”
“mode is made as a displaying” in lines 4-5 of claim 7 should read as “mode is displaying”
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claims 2-8 are further rejected due to their dependency to claim 1.
Claim 1 recites “an air leakage testing unit to perform, during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition, air leakage testing on the air system” in lines 19-21. However, the disclosure does not provide support for this limitation. Fig. 4 shows that blood pressure is first measured (steps S1-S13) then the air leakage testing is performed (steps S14-S19) rather than the air leakage testing happening during the blood pressure measurement.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-3 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claims 4-7 are further rejected due to their dependency to claim 1.
Claims 1-3 and 8 recite “to make displaying” and/or “to make not displaying” throughout the claims. However, it is unclear as to what it means for the notification control to “make displaying.” Clarification is requested.
The term “more inconspicuous” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “more inconspicuous” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. It is unclear what it means for the display mode to be “more inconspicuous” or “inconspicuous.” Clarification is requested.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Section 33(a) of the America Invents Act reads as follows:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no patent may issue on a claim directed to or encompassing a human organism.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 and section 33(a) of the America Invents Act as being directed to or encompassing a human organism.  See also Animals - Patentability, 1077 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 24 (April 21, 1987) (indicating that human organisms are excluded from the scope of patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101). Claim 5 recites “the measurement air bag…to compress an upper arm as the to-be-measured part” in lines 9-11, which is claiming a human organism. Claim 1 recites that the “cuff is configured to surround a to-be-measured part” in lines 3-4. To follow the claim language of claim 1, Examiner suggests to amend lines 9-11 of claim 5 to read as “the measurement bag…configured to compress an upper arm as the to-be-measured part.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection have been fully considered and are persuasive. The Examiner has performed a new 101 analysis on the amended claim 1. According to STEP 1 of the 101 analysis, the claim is directed to a machine, which is one of the statutory categories of invention. In STEP 2A, PRONG ONE, the claim is analyzed to determine whether it is directed to any judicial exception. The steps of the “to perform main control a first transition from a power-off state to a standby state in response to a power-on operation, to make a second transition to the standby state after the blood pressure measurement, and to make a third transition to the power-off state in response to a power-off operation in the standby state; and to perform, during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition, air leakage testing on the air system to obtain an air leakage testing result of the air leakage testing, and to cause the memory to store the air leaking testing result are steps that could be performed in the human mind or by hand. Thus, the claim is drawn to a mental process, which is an abstract idea. It is noted that these steps are performed by the main control unit and the air leakage testing unit. According to 2106.05(f) of the MPEP, merely using a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. In STEP 2A, PRONG TWO, the claim as a whole is analyzed to determine whether the claim recites additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. Claim 1 recites “to perform notification control to control display contents on the display based on the air leakage testing result stored in the memory… when the air leakage testing result is the second air leakage level,to make displaying, on the display, the air leakage testing result in a first display mode during the first transition,to make, in the standby state, displaying, on the display, that the blood pressure measurement is enabled without displaying the air leakage testing result or with displayingthe air leakage testing result in a second display mode more inconspicuous than the first display mode,to make not displaying the air leakage testing result during the blood pressure measurement and the second transition, andto make displaying, on the display, the air leakage testing result in a first display mode during the third transition,” which is merely adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (MPEP 2106.05(g)). The display of the air leakage testing result does not provide an improvement to the technological field, the machine does not effect a particular treatment or effect a particular change based on the displayed air leakage testing result, nor does the machine use a particular machine to perform the abstract idea. In STEP 2B, the claim as a whole is analyzed to determine whether any element, or combination of elements, is sufficient to ensure the claim amounts to significantly more than the exception. Besides the abstract idea, the claim recites the additional steps of to perform blood pressure measurement by driving the p ump to feed an air to the cuff through the first fluid pipe to pressurize the cuff or driving the valve to exhaust the hair from the cuff through the second fluid pipe to depressurize the cuff in response to a measurement start operation in the standby state, which is insignificant pre-solution activity of data gathering. The structural elements of the claim 1 were analyzed under the Berkheimer analysis as the structures are additional elements. Although Tsutsumi et al. ‘245 (US Pub No. 2019/0365245) teaches that the claimed cuff, pump, valve, processor, memory, and display are publically known (Fig. 1 and [0030]), there was no reference that teaches that these structures in combination with the air leakage testing unit is WURC. As such, the 101 analysis ends here and no 101 rejection was made.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 103 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) rejection of claim 1 has been withdrawn. Although it was found that Mori et al. ‘950 teaches the claimed structure, the main control unit and the steps performed by the main control unit, and the notification control unit, the steps performed by the notification control unit, and the air leakage testing unit, it was found that Mori et al. ‘950 does not teach the air leakage testing unit to perform the claimed steps during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition. An updated search and consideration was performed. Although the Examiner has found art that teaches performing an air leakage test in sphygmomanometers (such as Sawanoi et al. ‘221 (US Pub No. 2011/0282221), there was no art that was found to teach performing the air leakage test during the blood pressure measurement to the second transition. As such, the art rejection has been withdrawn.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.  Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL.  See MPEP § 706.07(a).  Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.  In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.  In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20190104950A1: Claims:
A blood pressure monitor for performing blood pressure measurement, comprising: a cuff to be wrapped around a measurement site; a unit including, as elements for blood pressure measurement, a pump, a valve, a pressure sensor, and an inner pipe connecting the pump, valve, and pressure sensor such that fluid can pass therethrough; and a connecting pipe connecting the cuff and the inner pipe in the unit such that fluid can pass therethrough, wherein the cuff is provided with marks serving as references for setting a dimension around a cylinder of the cuff when empty-wrapping, in which only the cuff is wrapped into a cylindrical shape with nothing in the center of the cuff, is performed, and the blood pressure monitor comprises a self failure diagnosis unit configured to determine whether or not there is a failure in a fluid system including the pump, the valve, the pressure sensor, the inner pipe, the connecting pipe, and the cuff, in a state in which the cuff is empty-wrapped into a cylindrical shape in alignment with the marks and the capacity of the cuff is restricted.
a cuff to be wrapped around a measurement site;
a unit including, as elements for blood pressure measurement, a pump, a valve, a pressure sensor, and an inner pipe connecting the pump, valve, and pressure sensor such that fluid can pass therethrough; and
a connecting pipe connecting the cuff and the inner pipe in the unit such that fluid can pass therethrough,
wherein the cuff is provided with marks serving as references for setting a dimension around a cylinder of the cuff when empty-wrapping, in which only the cuff is wrapped into a cylindrical shape with nothing in the center of the cuff, is performed, and
the blood pressure monitor comprises a self failure diagnosis unit configured to determine whether or not there is a failure in a fluid system including the pump, the valve, the pressure sensor, the inner pipe, the connecting pipe, and the cuff, in a state in which the cuff is empty-wrapped into a cylindrical shape in alignment with the marks and the capacity of the cuff is restricted.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein lower limit values and upper limit values are set in advance for a plurality of measurement items including at least a pressure increase rate, an air leakage amount, and an air discharge rate, according to a restricted capacity of the fluid system including the restricted capacity of the cuff, and the self failure diagnosis unit determines whether or not the plurality of measurement items including at least the pressure increase rate, the air leakage amount, and the air discharge rate are acceptable by comparing the plurality of measurement items with the upper limit values or lower limit values set in advance according to the restricted capacity of the fluid system.
lower limit values and upper limit values are set in advance for a plurality of measurement items including at least a pressure increase rate, an air leakage amount, and an air discharge rate, according to a restricted capacity of the fluid system including the restricted capacity of the cuff, and
the self failure diagnosis unit determines whether or not the plurality of measurement items including at least the pressure increase rate, the air leakage amount, and the air discharge rate are acceptable by comparing the plurality of measurement items with the upper limit values or lower limit values set in advance according to the restricted capacity of the fluid system.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the cuff contains a fluid bladder that is in communication with the connecting pipe between an inner cloth that is to come into contact with the measurement site and an outer cloth opposing the inner cloth, and a curler that keeps the shape of the cuff in a cylindrical shape to be wrapped around the measurement site in a natural state and is a core in the empty-wrapped state is included between the outer cloth and the fluid bladder.
the cuff contains a fluid bladder that is in communication with the connecting pipe between an inner cloth that is to come into contact with the measurement site and an outer cloth opposing the inner cloth, and a curler that keeps the shape of the cuff in a cylindrical shape to be wrapped around the measurement site in a natural state and is a core in the empty-wrapped state is included between the outer cloth and the fluid bladder.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the cuff is provided with calibration marks in a lengthwise direction of the cuff as the marks.
the cuff is provided with calibration marks in a lengthwise direction of the cuff as the marks.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , comprising a control unit configured to, in response to operation input, set a measurement capability diagnosis mode for causing the self failure diagnosis unit to operate, separately from a mode for performing the blood pressure measurement.
a control unit configured to, in response to operation input, set a measurement capability diagnosis mode for causing the self failure diagnosis unit to operate, separately from a mode for performing the blood pressure measurement.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 2 , comprising a first output unit configured to output results of determining whether or not each of the plurality of measurement results is acceptable.
a first output unit configured to output results of determining whether or not each of the plurality of measurement results is acceptable.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the cuffs are provided, the unit includes an element for blood pressure measurement, corresponding to each cuff, the cuffs and the corresponding inner pipes in the unit are connected by the connecting pipe, and the self failure diagnosis unit determines whether or not there is a failure in each fluid system corresponding to the cuffs.
a plurality of the cuffs are provided,
the unit includes an element for blood pressure measurement, corresponding to each cuff,
the cuffs and the corresponding inner pipes in the unit are connected by the connecting pipe, and
the self failure diagnosis unit determines whether or not there is a failure in each fluid system corresponding to the cuffs.
The blood pressure monitor according to claim 7 , comprising a second output unit configured to output results of determining whether or not there is a failure in each fluid system corresponding to the cuffs.
a second output unit configured to output results of determining whether or not there is a failure in each fluid system corresponding to the cuffs.
Ref US20100331709A1: Claims:
A detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device comprising: a compression fluid bag for compressing an artery in a measuring site by compressing the measuring site; a photoelectric sensor, including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for radiating detection light toward the measuring site from the light emitting portion, receiving the detection light transmitted through the measuring site with the light receiving portion, and outputting an output signal corresponding to a light quantity of the received detection light; and a fixing unit for fixing the photoelectric sensor with respect to the measuring site; wherein the fixing unit includes a base portion with a sensor attachment surface attached with the photoelectric sensor, and a guide portion arranged projecting out from the base portion toward the sensor attachment surface side, the guide portion having a distal end directly or indirectly placed to a body surface near the measuring site with the photoelectric sensor fixed with respect to the measuring site by the fixing unit; the compression fluid bag is arranged on the sensor attachment surface so as to cover the photoelectric sensor; and the guide portion is positioned to surround the photoelectric sensor when the fixing unit is seen from a normal direction of the sensor attachment surface.
a compression fluid bag for compressing an artery in a measuring site by compressing the measuring site;
a photoelectric sensor, including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for radiating detection light toward the measuring site from the light emitting portion, receiving the detection light transmitted through the measuring site with the light receiving portion, and outputting an output signal corresponding to a light quantity of the received detection light; and
a fixing unit for fixing the photoelectric sensor with respect to the measuring site; wherein
the fixing unit includes a base portion with a sensor attachment surface attached with the photoelectric sensor, and a guide portion arranged projecting out from the base portion toward the sensor attachment surface side, the guide portion having a distal end directly or indirectly placed to a body surface near the measuring site with the photoelectric sensor fixed with respect to the measuring site by the fixing unit;
the compression fluid bag is arranged on the sensor attachment surface so as to cover the photoelectric sensor; and
the guide portion is positioned to surround the photoelectric sensor when the fixing unit is seen from a normal direction of the sensor attachment surface.
The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide portion has a wall-shape or a columnar shape.
The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing unit includes a belt member attached by being wrapped around a living body including the measuring site.
The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 3 , wherein the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged in line in a longitudinal direction of the belt member.
A blood pressure information measurement device comprising: the detection unit for blood pressure information device according to claim 1 ; a drive unit for causing the light emitting portion to emit light; a light receiving quantity detector for detecting a fluctuation of light receiving quantity based on an output signal outputted from the photoelectric sensor; and a volume pulse wave acquiring unit for acquiring a volume pulse wave of an artery based on information obtained by the light receiving quantity detector.
the detection unit for blood pressure information device according to claim 1 ;
a drive unit for causing the light emitting portion to emit light;
a light receiving quantity detector for detecting a fluctuation of light receiving quantity based on an output signal outputted from the photoelectric sensor; and
a volume pulse wave acquiring unit for acquiring a volume pulse wave of an artery based on information obtained by the light receiving quantity detector.
The blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 5 , wherein the drive unit causes the light emitting portion to intermittently emit pulsed light.
The blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 5 , further comprising a pressure adjustment mechanism for expanding and contracting the compression fluid bag by adjusting an internal pressure of the compression fluid bag.
The blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 5 , further comprising an ejection wave/reflection wave acquiring unit for acquiring at least one of an ejection wave and a reflection wave of the pulse wave based on information of the volume pulse wave obtained by the volume pulse wave acquiring unit.
The blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a compression force detector for detecting an internal pressure of the compression fluid bag; and a blood pressure value acquiring unit for acquiring a diastolic blood pressure value and a systolic blood pressure value based on information of the volume pulse wave obtained by the volume pulse wave acquiring unit and information of the pressure obtained by the compression force detector.
a compression force detector for detecting an internal pressure of the compression fluid bag; and
a blood pressure value acquiring unit for acquiring a diastolic blood pressure value and a systolic blood pressure value based on information of the volume pulse wave obtained by the volume pulse wave acquiring unit and information of the pressure obtained by the compression force detector.
The blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a compression force detector for detecting an internal pressure of the compression fluid bag; a compression force control unit for servo controlling the compression force with respect to the artery by the compression fluid bag based on information of the volume pulse wave obtained by the volume pulse wave acquiring unit; and a blood pressure value acquiring unit for acquiring a diastolic blood pressure value and a systolic blood pressure value based on information of the pressure obtained by the compression force detector.
a compression force detector for detecting an internal pressure of the compression fluid bag;
a compression force control unit for servo controlling the compression force with respect to the artery by the compression fluid bag based on information of the volume pulse wave obtained by the volume pulse wave acquiring unit; and
a blood pressure value acquiring unit for acquiring a diastolic blood pressure value and a systolic blood pressure value based on information of the pressure obtained by the compression force detector.
Ref US20080319329A1: Claims:
A manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus, comprising: an inflation unit to generate pressurized air by a user through hand squeezing; a power generation unit to receive the pressurized air from the inflation unit and generate and output electric power; and an electronic blood pressure measurement unit to receive the electric power output from the power generation unit and inflate an air pouch with the pressurized air generated by the inflation unit, and detect a person's blood pressure signal through the air pouch and a sensor, and output a measurement result through an output unit.
an inflation unit to generate pressurized air by a user through hand squeezing;
a power generation unit to receive the pressurized air from the inflation unit and generate and output electric power; and
an electronic blood pressure measurement unit to receive the electric power output from the power generation unit and inflate an air pouch with the pressurized air generated by the inflation unit, and detect a person's blood pressure signal through the air pouch and a sensor, and output a measurement result through an output unit.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power generation unit has a generator to receive the pressurized air to generate AC power signals.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power generation unit has a power regulator to regulate the electric power generated by the power generation unit.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the power regulator is a rectifier.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the power regulator is voltage stabilizer.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power generation unit has a power storage to store the electric power generated by the power generation unit.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air pouch has an air release path.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflation unit has a check valve.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output unit is a display device.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output unit is a lighting device which turns on and off light to output the measurement result.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output unit is a lighting device which generates blinking light to output the measurement result.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output unit is a sound output device which broadcasts voice to output the measurement result.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output unit is a sound output device which makes audio broadcast to output the measurement result.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air received by the electronic blood pressure measurement unit and the power generation unit are coupled in a parallel fashion.
The manual-driven inflation-powered electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic blood pressure measurement unit receives the pressurized air from the inflation unit through the power generation unit, and the pressurized air received by the electronic blood pressure measurement unit and the power generation unit are coupled in a serial fashion.
Ref US20190104950F: [content unavailable]
Ref US20100331709: Claims:
A detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device comprising: a compression fluid bag for compressing an artery in a measuring site by compressing the measuring site; a photoelectric sensor, including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for radiating detection light toward the measuring site from the light emitting portion, receiving the detection light transmitted through the measuring site with the light receiving portion, and outputting an output signal corresponding to a light quantity of the received detection light; and a fixing unit for fixing the photoelectric sensor with respect to the measuring site; wherein the fixing unit includes a base portion with a sensor attachment surface attached with the photoelectric sensor, and a guide portion arranged projecting out from the base portion toward the sensor attachment surface side, the guide portion having a distal end directly or indirectly placed to a body surface near the measuring site with the photoelectric sensor fixed with respect to the measuring site by the fixing unit; the compression fluid bag is arranged on the sensor attachment surface so as to cover the photoelectric sensor; and the guide portion is positioned to surround the photoelectric sensor when the fixing unit is seen from a normal direction of the sensor attachment surface. 2. The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a wall-shape or a columnar shape. 3. The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes a belt member attached by being wrapped around a living body including the measuring site. 4. The detection unit for blood pressure information measurement device according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged in line in a longitudinal direction of the belt member. 5. A blood pressure information measurement device comprising: the detection unit for blood pressure information device according to claim 1; a drive unit for causing the light emitting portion to emit light; a light receiving quantity detector for detecting a fluctuat
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