Abstract:
A blood pressure monitor is disclosed with a housing and controls provided within the housing that are in communication with an external blood pressure sensor. A display is oriented on the housing for receiving the blood pressure measurement and displaying it for external viewing. A removable power source is selectively attachable to the housing for powering the controller and the display.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to blood pressure monitors. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Individuals having health problems relating to blood pressure are extremely common, and thus routine monitoring of blood pressure is necessary. A blood pressure measurement is taken by temporarily stopping the flow of blood in an artery, typically by inflating a cuff around the upper arm, and listening for the sound of the blood beginning to flow through the artery again as air is released from the cuff. Sounds continue to be heard until pressure in the artery exceeds the pressure in the cuff. Blood pressure is thus recorded as two measurements: 1) systolic pressure, which is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats (the pressure when the first sound is heard); and 2) diastolic pressure, which is the pressure between heartbeats (the pressure when the last sound is heard). Blood pressure measurements are recorded as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure. 
         [0005]    An individual does not need to have his or her blood pressure measured at a doctor&#39;s office, but can rather take a blood pressure measurement at home using a consumer blood pressure monitor. Home monitoring of blood pressure is especially useful when an individual requires blood pressure measurements to be taken frequently. In addition to monitoring blood pressure at home, people may desire to take their blood pressure monitors along with them on vacation or even carry the blood pressure monitor with them in daily travels such that they can constantly have the ability to check their blood pressure measurement if necessary. However, consumer blood pressure monitors may be bulky and/or heavy, thus making their frequent transport undesirable. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source mounted theron; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source disconnected; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source mounted thereon; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source disconnected. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0013]    The present invention includes a blood pressure monitor having a removable power source such as, but not limited to, a battery which may provide increased versatility of the blood pressure monitor for a user. With reference first to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a blood pressure monitor  10  according to the present invention may include a housing  12  having a display  14  and various control buttons  16 , and may operate in accordance with any consumer blood pressure monitor. Blood pressure monitor  10  may be configured to measure blood pressure by placement of a cuff  17  ( FIG. 4 ) around a user&#39;s wrist, around a user&#39;s upper arm, or any other means of blood pressure measurement. The cuff  17  may measure the blood pressure of the user and convey an electronic signal to the monitor  10 . Of course, other signals are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. The general functioning of blood pressure monitor  10  is not described further herein as details thereof are well known in the art. While a particular housing shape and configuration of blood pressure monitor  10  is shown and described herein, it is understood any shape or configuration of blood pressure monitor  10  is fully contemplated according to the present invention. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , blood pressure monitor  10  of the present invention includes a removable power source  20 , such as a battery, which may be mounted to housing  12 . In  FIG. 2 , power source  20  is mounted on a rear portion of housing  12  opposite display  14  and control buttons  16 . The power source  20  may be provided within an included angle defined by a base  21  of the housing  12  and the display  14  so that the battery  20  does not extend outside the overall dimensions of the blood pressure monitor  10  so that the battery  20  does not substantially increase the volume occupied by the monitor, thereby facilitating transportability of the monitor  10 . Further, packaging for the monitor  10  may be minimized by avoiding an increase in the overall dimensions of the monitor  10 . Additionally, by placement of the power source  20  between the base  21  and the display  14 , the battery  20  does not detract from an overall appearance of the blood pressure monitor  10 . Of course, other mounting locations of power source  20  on housing  12  could also be utilized. 
         [0015]    According to one aspect of the present invention, power source  20  is sized to be received within a receptacle  22  provided in housing  12  (best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). Power source  20  may be received and retained within receptacle  22  by a snap-fit arrangement, with an interference fit, a slide-in arrangement, using mating prongs and corresponding receiving areas (not shown), or by any other means of retaining power source  20  within receptacle  22  as long as desired by the user. Although a rectangular battery  20  and correspondingly-shaped receptacle  22  are shown herein, it is understood that battery  20  and receptacle  22  can have any shape or configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, receptacle  22  is configured to receive power source  20  such that power source  20  remains visible and accessible during engagement. In another embodiment, power source  20  could be received within a portion of housing  12 , such as an internal compartment or the like, such that power source  20  may be partially to fully concealed when engaged. Power source  20  can be arranged to be manually removable by the user, such as simply by applying adequate force to disengage the snap-fit, interference fit, or other mating arrangement between power source  20  and receptacle  22 . Alternatively, a push-button, sliding switch, or the like (not shown) and corresponding mechanism could be provided which, when actuated, ejects power source  20  from receptacle  22  for removal. Furthermore, a lock could be provided which retains power source  20  within receptacle  22  by any means to avoid unintended dislodgement. 
         [0017]    According to the present invention, receptacle  22  may be provided in communication with control electronics  24  ( FIG. 4 ) located within housing  12 , such that connection of power source  20  to receptacle  22  provides power for the operation of blood pressure monitor  10 . Blood pressure monitor  10  may also include a power cord  26  ( FIG. 4 ) which could be connected thereto to provide power to blood pressure monitor  10  for use in one scenario (for example, but not limited to, home use), whereas power source  20  could be available to be connected to blood pressure monitor  10  for use in another scenario (for example, but not limited to, travel use). In this way, a user may be provided the versatility of using a power cord or removable power source  20 , such as a battery, with their blood pressure monitor  10  whenever either option is most convenient, thus potentially increasing the portability, ease of use, and consequently the user compliance related to blood pressure monitor  10 . 
         [0018]    Receptacle  22  could also be provided in communication with an internal, rechargeable power source such as a rechargeable battery  28  ( FIG. 4 ), such that connection of power source  20  to receptacle  22  for a period of time acts to replenish the internal power source. In this manner, power source  20  could be connected for a period of time, be subsequently removed, and then blood pressure monitor  10  would be able to operate without either power source  20  or a power cord connection. 
         [0019]    The invention contemplates that the power source  20  may be utilized for powering various components within the housing  12 . As discussed above, these components may include but are not limited to the display  14 , the controller  24 , the rechargeable battery  28 , or the like. Additionally, the power source  20  may be utilized for powering a pump  30  within the housing  12  for pressurizing the cuff  17 . For the embodiment illustrated, the power source  20  may impart power to the controller  24 , which operates the pump  30  for pressurizing the cuff  17 , which measures a blood pressure measurement of the user. The blood pressure measurement may be conveyed from the cuff  17  to the controller  24  and displayed upon the display  14 , which is also powered by the power source  20 . 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another blood pressure monitor  32  is illustrated in accordance with the present invention. The blood pressure monitor  32  includes a battery pack  34 , which includes a detachable housing portion  36  for receiving an array of batteries  38  within the housing portion  36 . The housing portion  36  conceals the batteries  38  when assembled against a rear surface of the housing  12  and within the receptacle  22 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the housing portion  36  is provided with a pair of electrical contacts  40 , which are oriented to engage a corresponding pair of electrical contacts  42  within the receptacle  22  such that when the battery pack  34  is assembled to the housing  12 , the array of batteries  38  are in electrical communication with the components of the housing  12  through the contacts  40 ,  42  of the housing portion  36  and the housing  12 . 
         [0022]    The housing portion  36  may include a tab  44 , which is sized to be placed within a slot  45  in the receptacle  22 . The housing portion  36  may also include a latch  46  with a leading edge sized to be received within a corresponding slot  48  within the backside of the housing  12 . Thus, the housing portion  36  is assembled to the housing  12  by placing the tab  44  within the slot  45  and pivoting the leading edge of the latch  46  into the slot  48  thereby attaching the housing portion  36  to the housing  12 . The latch  46  may be biased to an extended orientation by a spring or other suitable biasing member for securing the latch  46  to the slot  48  when assembled. The housing portion  36  may be disassembled from the housing  12  by depressing the latch  46  thereby disengaging the latch for removal of the battery pack  34 . 
         [0023]    While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.