A blood pressure meter includes a pump and a first fluid path provided inside a main body. The first fluid path feeds a fluid from the pump to a fluid bladder or discharges the fluid from the fluid bladder. A pressure sensor is mounted on a first substrate disposed inside the main body. A second fluid path that introduces the fluid from the fluid bladder to the pressure sensor is provided. The second fluid path includes an inlet pipe that is integrally formed with a sensor package that incorporates the pressure sensor, and extends straight between the fluid bladder and the pressure sensor. A second substrate on which a blood pressure measurement element is mounted is disposed in a space that is located between the first substrate and the fluid bladder in a thickness direction and is adjacent to the second fluid path in a planar direction.

Method and systems are provided for reliable, convenient, self-administered, and cost-effective determination of central venous pressure. The noninvasive method and apparatus use changes in transmural pressure to create detectable changes in peripheral venous vascular volume for the determination of central venous pressure. Transmural pressure changes can be manifested by intravascular or extravascular pressure changes. The system is noninvasive and uses optical measurements of venous volume in the presence of transmural pressure changes. The relationship between the transmural pressure change and the change in vascular venous volume is combined with anatomical measurements to determine the central venous pressure of the subject. Central venous pressure can be used to determine hemodynamic status of the subject to include fluid overload in the heart failure patient.

Method and systems are provided for reliable, convenient, self-administered, and cost-effective determination of central venous pressure. The noninvasive method and apparatus use changes in transmural pressure to create detectable changes in peripheral venous vascular volume for the determination of central venous pressure. Transmural pressure changes can be manifested by intravascular or extravascular pressure changes. The system is noninvasive and uses optical measurements of venous volume in the presence of transmural pressure changes. The relationship between the transmural pressure change and the change in vascular venous volume is combined with anatomical measurements to determine the central venous pressure of the subject. Central venous pressure can be used to determine hemodynamic status of the subject to include fluid overload in the heart failure patient.

Method and system are provided for creating a self-sealing pressurized limb enclosure for the assessment of pressure effects on the limb. Embodiments can be self-sealing in that the seal is created by the positive pressure in the enclosure relative to the external environment and does not necessitate contact pressure at the seal location that exceeds the pressure in the enclosure. The seal accounts for anatomical size differences as well as deformations in the size and shape of the limb due to pressure. Furthermore, the seal maintains function in the presence of skin and tissue movement. In operation, the system can be used by an individual without external assistance.

An examination device for a heart. An afterload device connected to the aorta provides a counter-pressure by an annular space delimited between a rigid cylinder and an elastic tube inserted in the rigid cylinder. The annular space comprises a compressible medium, such as air, nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide and is connected to a reservoir providing a predetermined pressure corresponding to a diastolic pressure. The reservoir is connected to the annular space via a restriction and a back-flow valve. During diastole, the annular space is inflated by the reservoir and provides a diastolic counter pressure for providing coronary flow. During systole, the ejected fluid from the heart ventricle displaces the medium inside the annular space through the restriction to the reservoir, thereby removing energy from the fluid. The compressible medium forms a compliance. Also, there is a preload device comprising a vertical collapsible tube for preload of the atrium.

Disclosed is a blood pressure measurement device for a patient at a patient measurement site, comprising: a housing; and a pressure sensing chip mounted in the housing that is attachable to the patient measurement site. The pressure sensing chip may include a pressure transducing member. The pressure sensing chip may be configured to measure the patient's blood pressure based upon: 1) pressure applied by the patient's blood against the pressure transducing member at a first side of the pressure transducing member; and 2) gravity generated pressures over a height difference between the patient's heart level and a point of blood pressure measurement applied against the pressure transducing member at a second side of the pressure transducing member.

Disclosed is a blood pressure measurement device for a patient at a patient measurement site, comprising: a housing; and a pressure sensing chip mounted in the housing that is attachable to the patient measurement site. The pressure sensing chip may include a pressure transducing member. The pressure sensing chip may be configured to measure the patient's blood pressure based upon: 1) pressure applied by the patient's blood against the pressure transducing member at a first side of the pressure transducing member; and 2) gravity generated pressures over a height difference between the patient's heart level and a point of blood pressure measurement applied against the pressure transducing member at a second side of the pressure transducing member.

The present invention relates to a blood pressure monitor for non-invasive blood pressure measurement comprising a blood pressure sensor for measuring peripheral arterial pressure and a heart reference unit that comprises a first fluid column, with a first end positionable at blood pressure sensor level, and a second fluid column, with a first end positionable at a reference level, preferably the heart level, and at least one heart reference sensor for sensing the pressure prevailing in the first fluid column and the second fluid column. The invention further relates to a heart reference unit for a blood pressure monitor according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a blood pressure monitor for non-invasive blood pressure measurement comprising a blood pressure sensor for measuring peripheral arterial pressure and a heart reference unit that comprises a first fluid column, with a first end positionable at blood pressure sensor level, and a second fluid column, with a first end positionable at a reference level, preferably the heart level, and at least one heart reference sensor for sensing the pressure prevailing in the first fluid column and the second fluid column. The invention further relates to a heart reference unit for a blood pressure monitor according to the invention.

Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for compensating for hydrostatic pressure offset in transducer-based pressure measurements. The system may comprise: a measurement pressure transducer to measure an apparent fluid pressure at a measurement site, a reference pressure transducer to measure a hydrostatic pressure caused by a level difference between the measurement pressure transducer and the measurement site, and a controller to generate a corrected fluid pressure measurement based on the apparent fluid pressure and the hydrostatic pressure, wherein the measurement pressure transducer and the reference pressure transducer are placed at a same first level, and the measurement site and an end of a fluid-filled tube connected to the reference pressure transducer are at a same second level.