Patent ID: 7128715

Claim:
A pressure-pulse-wave detecting probe for detecting a pressure pulse wave generated by an artery of a living subject, comprising: a sensor portion which has at least one pressure detecting element and a press surface that is to be positioned manually by an operator, relative to the artery of the subject, and is to be pressed manually by the operator, against the artery of the subject via a body surface of the subject, such that the pressure pulse wave is detected by said at least one pressure detecting element which is arranged on said press surface; and an indicator which is provided to be integral with said sensor portion, and provides an indication as to whether a value of pressure detected by each of said at least one pressure detecting element is suitable for detection of the pressure pulse wave or not; wherein said at least one pressure detecting element consists of a plurality of pressure detecting elements which are arranged in a row on said press surface, wherein said indicator has a plurality of indicating portions one of which indicates whether the value of pressure detected by one of said plurality of pressure detecting elements is suitable for the detection of the pressure pulse wave or not, and another of which indicates whether the value of pressure detected by another of said plurality of pressure detecting elements is suitable for the detection of the pressure pulse wave or not, and wherein said one of said plurality of indicating portions and said another of said plurality of indicating portions are arranged in a direction parallel with said row in which said plurality of pressure detecting elements are arranged.