Patent Publication Number: US-2007106166-A1

Title: Apparatuses for ensuring positioning of a blood pressure cuff and methods of using the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to blood pressure measurements. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for ensuring proper placement of blood pressure cuffs during measurement.  
     BACKGROUND  
      In order for home health monitoring systems to consistently diagnose health issues with accuracy, patient self-measurements of vitals, for instance blood pressure measurements, must also be accurate. Usability testing in which participants had to use home blood pressure monitors revealed that participants who were given instructions on where to place the blood pressure cuff in order to obtain an accurate reading, often failed to position the cuff correctly. The bottom of the cuff should be placed about one inch above the elbow and a measuring end of the tube attached to the cuff should rest across the inside of the elbow. Because of the errors in positioning the blood pressure cuff, there was a substantial variability in the blood pressure readings obtained via the participants&#39; self measurements.  
      Despite extensive user training for use of blood pressure measurement devices, self-measurements are still prone to inaccuracy and variability due to flawed measurement practices by users. Users also become frustrated with the training and measurement process. Some physicians have reported skepticism about patient self-monitoring systems unless they can be assured of the reliability and validity of measurements.  
      Accordingly there is an unaddressed need in the industry to address the aforementioned and other deficiencies and inadequacies.  
     SUMMARY  
      This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is the Summary intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.  
      In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatuses and methods for ensuring proper positioning of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. Embodiments of the present invention help to ensure accurate and reliable readings by placing the blood pressure cuff in a proper position for accurate blood pressure measurements. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention reduce the need for user training and will likely help avoid user frustration with the measurement process.  
      One embodiment is a blood pressure cuff apparatus for ensuring proper positioning of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. The blood pressure cuff apparatus includes an elongated air bag of predetermined length disposed in the blood pressure cuff and adapted for inflation. The predetermined length has opposite ends to be placed around the arm of a patient. The apparatus also includes an appendage affixed to the cuff and extended from a bottom edge of the cuff between the opposite ends. The appendage is affixed in a position relative to the cuff and formed in shape to fit upon an elbow of a patient. The appendage fits the elbow in a manner that ensures that the cuff is positioned on the arm of the patient to affect an accurate measurement of the blood pressure. The apparatus still further includes a tube having a measurement end attached to the cuff. Thus, when the cuff is positioned around the arm and the appendage is positioned on the elbow of the patient, the measurement end of the tube is forced into a position relative to a brachial artery of the patient to influence an accurate measurement of blood pressure.  
      Another embodiment is an apparatus for ensuring a positioning of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure by a blood pressure monitor used in conjunction with the blood pressure cuff. The apparatus is an appendage affixed to the cuff and extended from a bottom edge of the cuff between opposite ends of the cuff. The appendage is affixed in a position relative to the cuff and formed in a shape to complementarily receive an elbow of the patient in a manner that ensures that one or more elements of the cuff are forced in a position that enables accurate measurement of blood pressure. The elements of the cuff include a tube having a measuring end to be placed near a brachial artery of the patient in order for the blood pressure monitor to accurately measure the blood pressure of the patient.  
      Still another embodiment is a method for ensuring a position of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. The method involves providing a blood pressure cuff apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated air bag adapted to be inflated and having opposite ends disposed in the blood pressure cuff to be placed around the arm of the patient. The apparatus also includes an appendage affixed to the cuff and extended from a bottom edge of the cuff between the opposite ends. The appendage is affixed in a position relative to the cuff and formed in a shape to fit upon an elbow of the patient in a manner that ensures that the cuff is positioned on the arm of the patient to affect an accurate measurement of the blood pressure. Additionally, the apparatus includes a tube having a measuring end attached to the cuff. When the cuff is positioned around the arm and the appendage is positioned on the elbow of the patient, the measuring end of the tube is forced into a position near a brachial artery of the patient.  
      The method also involves placing the appendage over the elbow of the patient where the appendage complementarily receives the elbow and placing the cuff around the arm of the patient. Thus, proper placement of the cuff to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure is ensured.  
      These and other features and advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a frontal isometric view of a blood pressure cuff apparatus shown in the open position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of the blood pressure cuff apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the open position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a blood pressure cuff apparatus illustrated receiving an upper arm and elbow of a patient for ensuring positioning to affect an accurate blood pressure determination according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a frontal isometric view of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the blood pressure cuff apparatus; and  
       FIG. 5  is a rear isometric view of the alternative illustrative embodiment of the blood pressure cuff apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As described briefly above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatuses and methods for ensuring proper positioning of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations, specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
      For purposes of the following description, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “front” and “rear” and relative terms of similar reference shall refer to the orientation of embodiments of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , except where expressly specified to the contrary. Specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to different embodiments are not to be considered as limiting unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
       FIG. 1  is a frontal isometric view of a blood pressure cuff apparatus (BPCA)  100  shown in the open position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The BPCA  100  includes an elongated flexible air bag  102  of predetermined length disposed in a blood pressure cuff  101  with inner and outer surface layers and adapted for inflation. The predetermined length has opposite ends  104  and  105  to be placed around the arm of a patient. The air bag  102  has a plurality of air-impermeable compartments (not shown) between the inner and outer surface layers that can be connected to a pressurization source to allow the air bag  102  to be inflated prior to a blood pressure measurement. The blood pressure cuff  101  may be formed of layers of a durable woven fabric such as nylon, and the air impermeable compartments located between the inner and outer layers may be retained in position by stitching.  
      Alternatively, other structures could be used to form the blood pressure cuff  101 , such as fabricating from rubber-impregnated fabrics, or from entirely non-woven resilient materials. The blood pressure cuff  101  may also be fabricated as a single structure, with the air impermeable compartments formed within the band.  
      The BPCA  100  also includes an appendage  107  affixed to the cuff  101  and extended from a bottom edge  103  of the cuff  101  between the opposite ends  104  and  105 . The appendage  107  is affixed in a position relative to the cuff  101  and formed in a shape to fit upon an elbow of a patient in a manner that ensures that the cuff  101  is positioned on the arm of the patient to affect or influence an accurate measurement of blood pressure.  
      The appendage  107  includes an indented and/or cut out region  110  formed to complementarily receive the elbow of a patient. The appendage  107  may be affixed in the position relative to the cuff  101  to fit upon the elbow of the patient based upon anthropometric data that enables accurate placement of the blood pressure cuff for a significant number of patients. Affixing of the appendage  107  may alternatively be based upon a one-time placement by a health professional to match or accommodate an arm size of the patient. Still further, affixing the appendage  107  may be based on predetermined sizes for the BPCA  100 . For instance, a manufacturer may produce a number of sizes based on variety of circumferences, diameters and/or lengths of arms for a potential user population. The appendage can be made of semi-flexible material such as plastic or foam rubber and covered in nylon for comfort. Additional details regarding affixing the appendage to the cuff  101  will be described below with respect to  FIG. 2 .  
      Still further, the BPCA  100  includes a tube  117  having a measurement end  120  attached to the cuff  101 . The tube is also attached to a blood pressure monitoring device  118 . When the cuff  101  is positioned around the arm and the appendage  107  is positioned on the elbow of the patient, the measurement end  120  of the tube  117  is forced into a position relative to a brachial artery of the patient that enables a most accurate measurement of blood pressure.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of the BPCA  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the open position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The appendage  107  may be permanently affixed to the cuff  101  by permanent stitching. In the alternative, the appendage  107  may be detachably affixed to the cuff  101  with Velcro, metal clamps, one or more straps, or hooks. As can be seen by the rear view, the cutout region  110  formed to receive the elbow of a patient goes all the way through the appendage  107 . Typically when the appendage  107  is placed over the elbow, positioning of the bottom edge  103  of the cuff  101  around the arm is a distance above the elbow of the patient, for example approximately one inch, for the most accurate blood pressure readings. Thus, as described above, the BPCA  100  ensures positioning of the blood pressure cuff  101  on the arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. For example, the blood pressure monitoring device  118  used in conjunction with the blood pressure cuff  101  may measure the blood pressure.  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a BPCA  100 ′ receiving an upper arm  302  and an elbow  304  of a patient for ensuring positioning to affect an accurate blood pressure determination according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cuff  101  surrounds the upper arm  302  while the elbow  304  naturally fits on an appendage  107 ′ to ensure proper cuff  101  and tube  117  placements for the most accurate blood pressure readings. The appendage  107 ′ also includes a strap  307  attached to the appendage to assist in holding the appendage  107 ′ in place. When the elbow  304  is placed in the appendage  107 ′, the measuring end  120  of the tube  117  is positioned near the brachial artery of the arm  302 . The tube  117  rests across the inside of the elbow  304  according to standard instructions given to test subjects or patients.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a frontal isometric view of an alternative illustrative embodiment of a BPCA  400  will be described. In this embodiment, the BPCA  400  includes an appendage  407  with an indented region  410 . The indented region  410  allows the appendage to complementarily receive an elbow when placing a cuff  101 ′ around an arm of a test subject. The indented region  410  affords the test subject additional comfort by cushioning the elbow versus the cutout embodiment. The appendage  407  also includes straps  417  attached to the appendage  407  to assist in holding the appendage  407  in place with respect to an arm of the patient. The appendage  407  also includes a narrower extended region  415  for use in affixing the appendage  407  to the cuff  101 ′. As briefly described above the appendage  407  with the extended region  415  is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, for example hard plastic or foam. As in the previous embodiment, placement of an elbow in the appendage  407  will ensure proper placement of the cuff  101 ′ around the arm for the most accurate blood pressure readings.  
       FIG. 5  is a rear isometric view of the alternative illustrative embodiment of the BPCA  400  of  FIG. 4 . The appendage  407  may be permanently affixed to the cuff  101 ′ by permanent stitching. In the alternative, the appendage  407  can be detachably affixed to the cuff  101 ′ with straps, Velcro, clamps, or hooks. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , straps  507 , permanently affixed to the cuff  101 ′, detachably affix the appendage  407  to the cuff  101 ′. The straps  507  are threaded through open slots  512  in the appendage  407 . The straps  507  are made of a flexible material, for example nylon.  
      Also, as can be seen by the rear view, the indented region  410  ( FIG. 4 ) formed to receive the elbow of a test subject does not show through the bottom of the appendage  407  thus, providing added cushioning for the elbow. Typically when the appendage  407  is placed over the elbow, positioning of a bottom edge  103 ′ of the cuff  101 ′ around the arm is a distance, for instance approximately one inch, above the elbow of the patient or test subject for the most accurate blood pressure readings.  
      Thus, the present invention is presently embodied as apparatuses and methods for ensuring proper positioning of a blood pressure cuff on an arm of a patient to affect an accurate measurement of blood pressure. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.