A pressure sensing balloon retractor for use in brain surgery to avoid mechanical injury to brain tissues. The balloon retractor includes an inflatable balloon that can be inserted in-between brain tissues to increase accessibility during surgery. A pressure transducer connected to a microcontroller senses the pressure of the retractor, and this retractor pressure is compared to the patient’s mean arterial pressure derived from a blood pressure monitor in order to determine whether the pressure exceeds the threshold for brain injury. A load cell can be used to calibrate the microcontroller to remove the effect of elastic pressure on the pressure transducer’s measurements.

A pressure sensing balloon retractor for use in brain surgery to avoid mechanical injury to brain tissues. The balloon retractor includes an inflatable balloon that can be inserted in-between brain tissues to increase accessibility during surgery. A pressure transducer connected to a microcontroller senses the pressure of the retractor, and this retractor pressure is compared to the patient’s mean arterial pressure derived from a blood pressure monitor in order to determine whether the pressure exceeds the threshold for brain injury. A load cell can be used to calibrate the microcontroller to remove the effect of elastic pressure on the pressure transducer’s measurements.

A pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer includes a wearable element, a first fluid strip, a second fluid strip and a control module. A first side of the wearable element is for contacting with a wearer. The first and second fluid strips are arranged in parallel on the first side and spaced apart for a predetermined distance. The control module is disposed on the wearable element and includes a first pressure sensing element, a second pressure sensing element and a processing unit. The first and second pressure sensing elements communicate with the first and second fluid strips, respectively, and are configured to sense a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure in the first and second fluid strips, respectively. The processing unit is electrically connected to the first and second pressure sensing elements and configured to analyze a difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure.

A pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer includes a wearable element, a first fluid strip, a second fluid strip and a control module. A first side of the wearable element is for contacting with a wearer. The first and second fluid strips are arranged in parallel on the first side and spaced apart for a predetermined distance. The control module is disposed on the wearable element and includes a first pressure sensing element, a second pressure sensing element and a processing unit. The first and second pressure sensing elements communicate with the first and second fluid strips, respectively, and are configured to sense a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure in the first and second fluid strips, respectively. The processing unit is electrically connected to the first and second pressure sensing elements and configured to analyze a difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure.

In a biological information measurement device, an internal pressure controller increases or decreases an internal pressure of a compression band wrapped around a part of a living body. A time-series data acquisition unit acquires time-series data of the volume and the internal pressure of the compression band while the internal pressure of the compression band increases or decreases. A relationship deriving unit derives a relationship between the volume and the internal pressure of the compression band based on the time-series data. A determination unit differentiates the relationship between the volume and the internal pressure with respect to the internal pressure to derive a first differential value, differentiates the first differential value with respect to time or the internal pressure to derive a second differential value, and determines the internal pressure at the peak of the second differential value as the blood pressure of the living body.

Example systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for sensing a force applied by an external source in a fluid monitoring tube. An example system comprises a force sensing device and signal conditioning circuitry configured to be electrically coupled to the force sensing device. The example system further comprises a housing configured to enclose the force sensing device and the signal conditioning circuitry. The housing comprises a snap structure configured to attach the housing to a base plate and retain the force sensing device and the signal conditioning circuitry in the housing.

A testing apparatus for estimating a central venous pressure by measuring a venous pulse by a sensor at a predetermined measurement position of a target person is equipped with an estimation unit which estimates that the central venous pressure of the target person is lower than a reference venous pressure if the venous pulse is not detected by the sensor at the predetermined measurement position of the target person who assumes a particular posture with which a water-gauge pressure corresponding to a vertical distance between the heart of the target person and a peak point, in the vertical direction, of a vein leading from the heart to the measurement position coincides with the reference venous pressure.

A testing apparatus for estimating a central venous pressure by measuring a venous pulse by a sensor at a predetermined measurement position of a target person is equipped with an estimation unit which estimates that the central venous pressure of the target person is lower than a reference venous pressure if the venous pulse is not detected by the sensor at the predetermined measurement position of the target person who assumes a particular posture with which a water-gauge pressure corresponding to a vertical distance between the heart of the target person and a peak point, in the vertical direction, of a vein leading from the heart to the measurement position coincides with the reference venous pressure.

The present disclosure relates generally to controlling a volume of fluid within a portion of a patient's body. For example, the present disclosure can relate to the addition or removal of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from a portion of the patient's brain. The amount of fluid can be controlled by a system that includes a dual chamber probe and a volume control. One channel can include a drain element to drain the fluid from the portion of a patient's body. The other channel can include a volume changing element to facilitate the drainage of the fluid by changing a volume of the portion of the patient's body. The volume changing element can be coupled to a volume control, which can control the change of the volume of the portion of the patient's body (e.g., based on passive oscillation or active oscillation).

The present invention provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement device which allows noninvasive and accurate measurement of arteriovenous pressure, and also provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement method using the measurement device. The noninvasive arteriovenous pressure measurement device comprises a probe (20) for radiating ultrasound toward a blood vessel in the skin, a pressing part (10) for pressing the skin in a state of being placed between the skin and the probe (20), and a pressure sensor (33) for detecting a pressing force applied to the skin at the pressing part (10), the pressing part (10) having water (36) permeable to the ultrasound and a balloon (31) accommodating the water (36), the flexible container (31) being made of a flexible material permeable to the ultrasound, and an outer surface of the balloon (31) presses the skin.