Patent ID: 7226421

Claim:
A method of operating a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having an inflatable and deflatable pressure cuff positioned on a patient and using a pressure transducer, with the method comprising the steps of: inflating the pressure cuff to an initial inflation pressure; continuously deflating the pressure cuff from the initial inflation pressure; obtaining a series of oscillation pulses from the pressure transducer as the pressure cuff is deflated from the initial inflation pressure; comparing the obtained oscillation pulses to predicted pulse estimates; interrupting the continuous deflation of the pressure cuff when the obtained oscillation pulses vary from the predicted pulse estimates; deflating the pressure cuff in a sequence of distinct pressure steps after interruption of the continuous deflation; obtaining oscillation pulses from the pressure transducer during each pressure step; and calculating the patient's blood pressure based on the plurality of obtained oscillation pulses.