AUTOMATIC BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract: An automatic blood pressure monitoring system for automatically obtaining blood pressure measurements, which includes (a) determining device for determining a measure of blood pressure of a living body; (b) detecting de­ vice for detecting a degree of saturation of oxygen in blood which flows in a peripheral part of the living body, the device generating signal representative of abnormality if the degree is found abnormal; and (c) control device being responsive to the signal supplied from the detecting device, to start the det­ ermining device to determine the measure of blood pressure. There is also disclosed an automatic blood pressure monitor­ ing system which includes (i) determining device for deter­ mining a measure of blood pressure; (ii) detecting device for detecting a degree of saturation of oxygen in blood, the det­ ecting device generating signal indicative of abnormality if the degree is found abnormal; and (iii) trigger device for gen­ erating first signal at intervals for periodically starting the det­ ermining device so as to determine the measure, the trigger device being responsive to the signal supplied from the det­ ecting device, to generate second signal at intervals shorter than the intervals at which to generate the first signal, so as to periodically start the determining means for determining the measure.

Description: The present invention relates to an automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to the preamble of claim 1. There is known in the art an automatic blood pressure monitoring system having an inflatable cuff which is wound around a part of a subject or living body to be monitored, so as to oppress the part, and also having determining means which determines a measure of blood pressure based on fluctuations of pulse waves that are caused in association with variation in the pressure in the inflatable cuff. In order to capture such fluctuations of the pulse waves, a variety of indications are utilized such as: appearance and disappearace of Korotkov's sounds which are heard at the part of the subject, while the cuff is deflated; change in the magnitude of oscillations of the pressure in the cuff which are caused in synchronous relationship with heartbeats of the subject; or change in the magnitude of pulsations on the surface of the wall of an artery that are detected by means of ultrasonic wave. A conventional automatic monitoring system of such a type is adapted to obtain blood pressure measurements, according to starting signals supplied periodically, for the purpose of, for example, monitoring a patient (living body) during or after a surgical operation. In the above-identified type of automatic monitoring system, a measure of blood pressure is not necessarily obtained at the time the subject being monitored is brought into an abnormal state with respect to the degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood, due to shock or cyanosis, since such measurement is conducted at regular intervals of time. That is, the above mentioned conventional system is not able to obtain a measure of blood pressure at the time the measure is clinically needed for grasping the condition of the subject. An automatic monitoring system for monitoring a subject on blood pressure during or after a surgical operation, is required from the clinical viewpoint to be able to obtain a measure of blood pressure at the very time the subject is brought into an abnormal state. In order to solve these problems it therefore has already been proposed in EP-A-0 123 313 to provide an automatic blood pressure measuring system which is comprising determining means for determining a measure of blood pressure of a living body as well as detecting means which is detecting an abnormality of heart beats or of the volume of blood of the living body and which is generating a corresponding abnormality signal. In addition there is provided a control means which is responsive to the abnormality signal in order to start the a.m. determining means to determine the actual blood pressure of the living body during this abnormal state. The above provisions offer the advantage that the living body to be examined, e.g. a patient being under anesthesia, must not be continuously surveyed. It, however, has been found that this known system, especially during a surgical procedure, does not always initiate the determining of blood pressure in good time. It therefore is the object of the present invention to improve an automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the determing procedure of blood pressure under all circumstances is started well-timed. According to the present invention this object is achieved by the advantageous measures as indicated in the characterizing portion of claim 1. According to the present invention there is provided clinically significant information regarding the condition of the circulatory system quite rapidely at a critical or potentially critical situation. Thus there are obtained more detailled information during clinically important periods. Further advantageous features of the invention are subject matter of the subclaims. In the following the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig .1 schematically is showing a first embodiment of the monitoring system; Fig .2 schematically is showing an oxymeter of the monitoring system of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate flow charts used for operating the monitoring system of Fig. 1, respectively; and Fig. 5 is partially illustrating another embodiment of the monitoring system. There is diagramatically shown in Fig. 1 an arrangement of an automatic blood pressure monitoring system in which the so-called "oscillometric method" is employed for obtaining blood pressure measurements. In this connection, it is noted that the present invention is applicable to other types of automatic blood pressure monitoring sytems such as of the type in which blood pressure measurements are obtained by detecting Korotkov's sounds through a microphone, or of the type in which blood pressure measurements are obtained by sensing fluctuations of waves propagated on the surface of the wall of an artery by means of ultrasonic wave. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 10 designates an inflatable cuff which is wound around an arm of a patient, so as to oppress its arm. The inflatable cuff 10 is coupled to a pressure sensor 12, electrically-operated pump 14, and rapid-deflation solenoid valve 16, respectively. The cuff 10 is also coupled to a slow-deflation solenoid valve 18 via a restrictor member 20. The pressure sensor 12 detects a level of pressure in the inflatable cuff 10 and generates a signal SP representative of the detected level of the pressure. The electrically-operated pump 14 inflates the inflatable cuff 10 so as to raise the pressure in the cuff 10. The slow-deflation solenoid valve 18 slowly deflates the cuff 10 so as to gradually lower the pressure in the cuff 10, after the cuff 10 has been inflated by the pump 14. While the cuff 10 is slowly deflated by the slow-deflation solenoid valve 18, a measure of blood pressure is obtained from the patient. The rapid-deflation solenoid valve 16 rapidly deflates the cuff 10, after a measure of blood pressure has been obtained. The members 10, 14, 18, 20 cooperate with each other to constitute a cuff device 22 for oppressing a part of the subject and gradually removing the oppression from the part. The signal SP generated by the pressure sensor 12 is supplied, via an amplifier 24, to a first discriminator 26 and a second discriminator 28, respectively. The first discriminator 26 is equipped with a low-pass filter and an A/D converter, and filters the signal SP received, so as to remove pulse waves which are propagated to the cuff 10 in synchronous relationship with heartbeats of the patient. The first discriminator 26 converts the filtered signal SP into digital signals SPD indicative of a variation in static pressure in the cuff 10. The signals SPD are then supplied to an I/O port 30. On the other hand, the second discriminator 28 is equipped with a band-pass filter and an A/D converter, and filters the signal SP supplied, so as to collect the signal part corresponding to the pulse waves which should have been removed at the first discriminator 26. The second discriminator 28 thus is collecting signals corresponding to pulse waves with a frequency ranging from 1.0 to 50 Hz, for example. The filtered signal SP is converted into digital signals SMD, and then supplied to the I/O port 30. The instant blood pressure monitoring system is provided with various switches: automatic-operation switch SW1, periodical-measuring switch SW2, manual-operation switch SW3, and starting button PB1. The automatic-operation switch SW1 is operated to supply to the I/O port 30 a signal SA utilized for placing the system in its automatic operation mode. The periodical-measuring switch SW2 is operated to supply to the I/O port 30 a signal SC utilized for placing the system in its periodical-measuring mode. The manual-operation switch SW3 is operated to supply to the I/O port 30 a signal ST used for placing the system in its manual-operation mode. The starting button PB1 indicated above is depressed to supply to the I/O port 30 a signal MS used for starting the system to obtain a measure of blood pressure of the patient, in the manual-operation mode of the system. In the periodical-measuring mode, a trigger device 32 periodically generates a signal SS utilized for starting the system for obtaining a blood pressure measurement. The signal SS is supplied to the I/O port at regular intervals of 1 to 120 minutes. In the automatic-operation mode, an oxymeter 34 supplies to the I/O port 30 a signal SOA representative of an abnormal degree of saturation of oxygen in blood which flows in a peripheral part of the patient, so as to start the operation of measurement of blood pressure. The oxymeter 34 serves as detecting means for detecting a degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood of the patient. The oxymeter 34 which is constructed as illustrated in Fig. 2 includes a block 38 in which a receiver hole 37 is formed. Into the receiver hole 37 is inserted a peripheral part of the patient to be monitored, such as a finger 36. An air bag 39 is disposed on an inner wall of the block 38. Air is supplied to the air bag 39 from an air supply (not shown), as needed, so as to oppress the finger 36. A lamp 40 is embedded in an innner wall of the block 38. Electric power is applied to the lamp 40 from an electric power supply (not shown), so as to light the lamp 40. The lamp 40 emits light which has characteristics of being transmitted through the finger 36. In a wall opposed to the wall in which the lamp 40 is embedded, there are embedded a first photosensor 41 and a second photosensor 42. The first photosensor 41 is equipped with a first filter 43 which permits only infrared rays with about 800 µm wavelengths to pass therethrough, while the second photosensor 42 is equipped with a second filter 44 which permits only rays with about 600 µm wavelengths to pass therethrough. The about 800 µm wavelength light received by the first photosensor 41 is of a nature in which the amount thereof is not affected by the degree of saturation of oxygen in blood within the finger 36, but is varied in association with the volume of blood and quantity of tissue of the finger 36. On the other hand, the about 600 µm wavelength light received by the second photosensor 42 is of a nature in which the amount thereof is varied in association with the degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood, the volume of the blood, and the quantity of the tissue of the finger 36. The first and second photosensors 41 and 42, each being a photocell, generate signals V1 and V2, respectively, corresponding to respective electromotive forces v1 and v2 which are caused by the respective kinds of light received. In general, the degree S of saturation of oxygen in blood is expressed as percentage (%) obtained by dividing the amount of hemoglobin oxide by the total amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The degree S is determined by the following Equation (1): where, R2': amount of light having been passed through finger 36 with the blood removed, corresponding to signal V2 in the case where finger 36 is oppressed by air bag 39; R2: amount of light having been passed through normal finger 36, corresponding to signal V2 in the case where finger 36 is not oppressed by air bag 39; R1': amount of light having been passed through finger 36 with the blood removed, corresponding to signal V1 in the case where finger 36 is oppressed by air bag 39; R1: amount of light having been passed through normal finger 36, corresponding to signal V1 in the case where finger 36 is not oppressed by air bag 39; and K1 and K2: constant, respectively. Calculator element 45 calculates a degree of saturation of oxygen, as follows. First, the calculator element 45 inflates the air bag 39 and oppresses the finger 36 so as to remove the blood out of the finger 36, i.e., make veins and arteries of the finger 36 vacant, and then deflates the air bag 39 so as to place the finger in its normal state. Thus, the first and second photosensors 41 and 42 generate signals V1 and V2, respectively, in both cases where blood is removed from the finger 36 due to the oppression by the air bag 39 and where the finger 36 is not oppressed, i.e., in its normal state. Based on the signals V1 and V2 received, the calculator element 45 determines a degree S of saturation of oxygen in the blood of the patient being monitored, according to Equation (1). Subsequently, the element 45 supplies a signal SO representative of the thus obtained degree S, to an abnormality discriminator 46. In the meantime, the abnomality discriminator 46 receives from a manually-operable device 47 a signal SE representative of a reference degree of saturation of oxygen. The discriminator 46 generates signal a SOA representative of abnormality of the degree S, if the degree S represented by signal SO received is found to be below the reference degree indicated by signal SE supplied from the device 47. Referring back to Fig. 1, the above-indicated I/O port 30 is connected by way of a data bus line to a central processing unit (CPU) 50, a random access memory (RAM) 52, and a read only memory (ROM) 54, respectively. The CPU 50, RAM 52 and ROM 54 cooperate with each other to constitute a computer serving as control means which executes a sequence of steps for starting the determining means for determining a measure of blood pressure of the patient. The CPU 50 processes signals received at the I/O port 30 according to a program which is stored in the ROM 54, while utilizing the RAM 52 for the purpose of temporarily storing the signals received. The CPU 50 generates signals PD, MD1 and MD2 to the electrically-operated pump 14, rapid-deflation solenoid valve 16, and slow-deflation solenoid valve 18, respectively, for the purpose of actuating the respective members 14, 16 and 18. The CPU 50 also supplies to a display 56 a signal DD representative of the measure of blood pressure to be displayed thereon. Referring next to the flow charts of Figs. 3 and 4, there will be described the operation of the blood pressure monitoring system. Initially, a step S1 on the flow chart of Fig. 3 is executed by the CPU 50 to check whether or not the manual-operation switch SW3 has been operated to select the manual operation mode, that is, whether or not the signal ST from the switch SW3 is present in the I/O port 30. If the manual-operation mode is selected, that is, if the monitoring system is in the manual-operation mode, step S1 is followed by a step S2 at which it is checked whether or not the starting button PB1 has been depressed, that is, whether or not the signal MS from the starting button PB1 is present in the I/O port 30. If the signal MS is not present in the I/O port 30, that is, if the decision at step S2 is "NO", step S2 is repeated until the decision is "YES". If the decision at step S2 is "YES", that is, indicates that the signal MS is present in the I/O port 30, step S2 is followed by a step S3. At step S3, a blood-pressure determining routine is executed to determine a measure of blood pressure of the patient. The blood-pressure determining routine includes a plurality of steps, which will be described below in detail. Fig. 4 shows a sequence or steps used for the blood-pressure determining routine. First, a step R1 is executed to close the rapid-deflation and slow-deflation selenoid valves 16 and 18 and to generate the signal PD to actuate the electrically-operated pump 14. Thus, the inflatable cuff 10 wound around a part of the patient is inflated, and the part of the patient is oppressed. Subsequently, step R1 is followed by a step R2 at which it is checked whether or not a level of the pressure P in the inflated cuff 10 which is indicated by the signal SPD from the first discriminator 26 has exceeded a predetermined maximum pressure P max . If the decision at step R2 is "NO", that is, if the pressure P in the cuff 10 has not yet exceeded, step R2 is repeated. In the meantime, if the decision at step R2 becomes "YES", a step R3 is executed to stop the electrically-operated pump 14. Consequently, the pressure P in the cuff 10 is held at the increased level above the pressure P max . The pressure P max is predetermined above a maximum (systolic) blood pressure of the patient to be monitored. Step R3 is followed by a step R4. At step R4, the CPU 50 supplies the signal MD2 from the I/O port 30 to the slow-deflation solenoid valve 18 so that the valve 18 is opened. Accordingly, air in the inflated cuff 10 is slowly discharged through the restrictor member 20 and the valve 18, and the pressure P in the cuff 10 is gradually lowered. Subsequently, a step R5 is executed to obtain a measure of blood pressure of the patient. At step R5, the maximum and minimum blood pressure is obtained as follows. First, there are determined points at which the rate of change in the magnitude of oscillations of the pressure in the cuff 10 that are represented by the signal SMD supplied from the second discriminator 28, becomes maximal. As previously mentioned, the oscillations of the pressure in the cuff 10 correspond to pulse waves propagated to the cuff 10 through the part of the patient around which the cuff 10 is wound. The thus-determined points are defined as maximum and minimum blood pressure points. And, the values of the pressure in the cuff 10 corresponding to those points are regarded as the maximum and minimum blood pressure. Next, the thus-obtained measure of blood pressure is indicated on the display 56. Step R5 is followed by a step R6 at which the CPU 50 supplies the signal MD1 to the rapid-deflation solenoid valve 16 so that it is opened to rapidly discharge air from the inflatable cuff 10, and that the oppression is removed from the part of the patient. The blood pressure determining routine, i.e., step S3 or steps R1-R6 cooperate with the members 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 28 and others to constitute the determining means of the monitoring system. After the sequence of steps R1-R6 have been executed at step S3 to determine a measure of blood pressure of the subject, the control or CPU 50 returns to step S1. In the case where the manual-operation mode has not been selected, that is, if the decision at step S1 is "NO", step S1 is followed by a step S4. At step S4, it is checked whether or not the periodical-measuring switch SW2 has been operated, that is, whether or not the signal SC is present in the I/O port 30. In the case where the switch SW2 has been operated, that is, if the system is placed in its periodical-measuring mode, step S4 is followd by a step S5 at which it is checked whether the signal SS periodically supplied from the trigger device 32 is present in the I/O port 30. As previously described, the signal SS is utilized by the CPU 50 for starting the determining means so as to obtain a measure of blood pressure. If the signal SS is not present in the I/O port 30, step S5 is repeated. In the meanswhile, once the signal SS is supplied from the trigger device 32 and present in the I/O port 30, the CPU 50 goes to step S3 for obtaining a measure of blood pressure. The blood pressure measurement is not necessarily conducted at the time the patient becomes worse or abnormal with respect to the degree of saturation of oxygen in blood, in the periodical-measuring mode described above. In the case where the blood pressure monitoring system is placed in its automatic-operation mode, that is, in the case where the automatic-operation switch SW1 has been operated, the decision at step S4 is "NO", and the decision at step S6 whether or not the signal SA is present in the I/O port 30, is "YES". If the switch SW1 has not been operated, the decision at step S6 is "NO", and the CPU 50 returns to step S1 so as to execute the following steps. Since the system is now in its automatic-operation mode, step S6 is followed by a step S7 to check whether or not the signal SOA representative of abnormality of the degree of saturation of oxygen in blood is present in the I/O port 30. If the signal SOA is not present in the port 30, step S7 is repeated. In the meantime, if the signal SOA is supplied from the oxymeter 34, the CPU 50 goes to step S3 to immediately obtain a measure of blood pressure and to show on the display 56 the figures indicative of the obtained blood pressure. As can be understood from the above description, blood pressure measurement is automatically conducted at the time the patient being monitored is brought into an abnormal blood state, in response to the signal SOA, in the case where the system is placed in its automatic-operation mode. Thus, the automatic-operation mode is used with much advantage, for example, for the purpose of monitoring a patient during or after a surgical operation. Since a measure of blood pressure is obtained upon detection of abnormality in the blood of the patient, medical treatment or aid is given to the patient without delay. Further, the monitoring system provides another advantage in that the inflatable cuff 10 never applys oppression to the patient at the time at which blood pressure measurements need not be obtained. Thus, the patient being monitored does not suffer any unnecessary oppression or congestion. The monitoring system is adapted to detect abnormality of the degree of saturation of oxygen in blood which flows within a peripheral part of the patient, the finger 36, at which a change of condition of the circulation system is initially exhibited. In the case where the system is used for monitoring a patient who is undergoing an exercise or activity test, it can immediately find the patient brought into shock and start a measure of blood pressure of the patient in the shock state. Referring next to Fig. 5, there is illustrated another embodiment of the automatic blood pressure monitoring system. The present embodiment is similar to the previously-described embodiment, except that an oxymeter 134 is supplying the signal SOA indicative of abnormality of the degree S, not only to the I/O port 30 so as to immediately start the operation for determining a measure of blood pressure, but also to a trigger device 132. The trigger device 132 of the present embodiment functions to generate a starting signal SS at intervals so as to periodically start the operation for obtaining a measure of blood pressure from the patient, as the trigger device 32 of the previous embodiment does. With the signal SOA being supplied from the oxymeter 134, the trigger device 132 shortens the intervals, that is, generates the starting signal SS at shortened intervals. For example, the intervals may be changed from 15 minutes to 1 minute. In the instant monitoring system, at the time the patient being monitored becomes abnormal with respect to the degree S of saturation of oxygen in the blood, the oxymeter 134 supplies the signal SOA to both the I/O port 30 and the trigger device 132. In the case where the monitoring system is placed in its periodical-measuring mode, therefore, the system is responsive to the signal SOA indicative of abnormality of the degree S, to continuously obtain blood pressure measurements from the patient at shortened intervals. This is very advantageous from the clinical viewpoint. The oxymeter 34 may be adapted to detect abnormality of the degree of saturation of oxygen of the blood at an ear of the patient, in place of at the finger 36. The functions of the calculator element 45, the abnormality discriminator 46 and the manually-operable device 47 all of which serve for the oxymeter 34 may be replaced by a program which is stored in the ROM 54 or other storing means. In this case, signals V1 and V2 generated by the first and second photosensors 41 and 42 are supplied to the I/O port 30 by way of an A/D converter. While the illustrated embodiments are adapted to determine, at step R5 of Fig. 4, a measure of blood pressure based on a change in the magnitude of pulse waves indicated by signals SMD, the measure may be determined based on the pressure in the cuff 10 at the time Korotkov's sounds appear and disappear to be heard through a microphone. Korotkov's sounds are caused by pulse waves propagated to the part of the patient around which the inflatable cuff 10 is wound, while the inflated cuff 10 is slowly deflated. Alternatively, the measure of blood pressure may be determined based on variation in the magnitude of pulsory motion of pulse waves propagated on the surface of the wall of an artery in the part of the patient around which the cuff 10 is wound, while the cuff 10 is deflated. The illustrated embodiments are adapted to determine a measure of blood pressure while the inflated cuff 10 is slowly deflated. However, it is possible to determine the measure while the inflatable cuff 10 is inflated to oppress a part of the patient being monitored. The first embodiment of the blood pressure monitoring system may be modified to have the automatic-operation mode only. In this case, the switches SW1, SW2, SW3 and PB1 are omitted, and steps S1, S2, S4, S5 and S6 on the flow cart of Fig. 4 are also omitted.

Claims: An automatic blood pressure monitoring system for automatically obtaining blood pressure measurements, comprising: [A] determining means (22, 26, 28) for determining a measure of blood pressure (SP) of a living body; [B] detecting means (34; Fig.2) for detecting an abnormality of a parameter of the blood circulatory system of said living body and for generating a corresponding abnormality signal; [C] and control means (50) responsive to said abnormality signal; characterized in that [D] said detecting means (34; Fig.2) detects a degree of saturation of oxygen in blood which flows in a peripheral part of said living body, said detecting means (34; Fig.2) generates said abnormality signal (SOA) when said degree of saturation of oxygen in blood is found to be abnormal; [E] said determining means (22, 26, 28) determines the measure of blood pressure (SP) of said living body at periodically repeated intervals; and in that [F] said control means (50) in response to said abnormality signal (SOA) shortens said intervals. An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said detecting means (34) is comprising an air bag (39) for oppressing said peripheral part of said living body so as to remove the blood out of veins and arteries of said peripheral part. An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that said detecting means (34) is comprising a lamp (40) for emitting light toward said peripheral part of said living body An automatic blood pressure monitoring system as according to claim 3, characterized in that said detecting means (34) further comprises first sensor means (41) for selectively receiving first light out of said light which has been transmitted through said peripheral part of said living body, the amount of said first light received by said first sensor means (41) being varied in association with the volume of blood at said peripheral part and the quantity of tissue at said peripheral part but by no means affected by the degree of saturation of oxygen in said blood, said first sensor means (41) generating first signal (V1) corresponding to the amount of the first light received, said detecting means also comprising second sensor means (42) for selectively receiving second light out of the light which has been transmitted through the peripheral part, the amount of said second light received by said second sensor means (42) being varied in association with the volume of blood at the peripheral part, the quantity of tissue at the peripheral part and the degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood, said second sensor means (42) generating second signal (V2) corresponding to the amount received. An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 4, characterized in that said lamp (40) emits said light and said first and second sensor means (41, 42) receive said first and second lights and generate said first and second signals (V1, V2) , respectively, in both cases where said peripheral part of said living body is oppressed by said air bag (39) and where the peripheral part is not oppressed by the air bag (39) . An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said detecting means (34) further comprises caliculator means (45) for receiving said first signal (V1) from said first sensor means (41) and said second signal (V2) from said second sensor means (42) , in said both cases, said calculator means (45) determining said degree of saturation of oxygen in the blood of the living body, based on the first and second signals (V1, V2) received in the both cases, and generating signal (50) representative of said degree determined. An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 6, characterized in that said detecting means (34) further comprises storing means (54) for storing a reference degree of saturation of oxygen and generating signal representative of said reference degree stored, said detecting means also comprising abnormality discriminator means for receiving said signal from said calculator means (45) and said signal from said storing means (54) , checking if said degree determined by said calculator means is abnormal over said reference degree stored by said storing means (54) , and generating to said control means signal representative of abnormality if the degree determined by the calculator means (45) is found abnormal. An automatic blood pressure monitoring system according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said first light selectively received by said first sensor means (41) has wavelenths of around 800 nm, while said second light selectively received by said second sensor means (42) has wavelengths of around 600 nm.

Inventors: NIWA, MINORU, YOKOE, HIFUMI
Applicants: COLIN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A61B5
IPC codes: A61B5, G06F17