Oscillometric pressure pulse waveforms: their current and prospective applications in biomedical instrumentation

The objective of this paper is to describe current uses of oscillometric pressure pulse waveforms and to introduce several prospective applications of the waveforms. A specialized system (Carditor) for acquisition, processing and display of waveforms is described. Carditor was used to acquire a database of oscillometric blood pressure waveforms from a wrist cuff. The following prospective methods are described: a) oscillometric blood pressure algorithms based on physiology, b) new method of blood pressure monitor testing based on a database of oscillometric waveforms and reference blood pressure measurement, c) determination of blood pressure and hemodynamics from oscillometric waveforms, d) wrist cuff method for acquisition of radial artery waveforms. An important feature of the described methods is that data can be acquired and processed automatically and no special skill is necessary to apply the cuff. Such feature makes a device utilizing these methods suitable for clinical and home environment. Key-Words: Bioimpedance, blood pressure, hemodynamic, microcontroller, oscillometric waveforms, sensor.