User releasable and adjustable blood pressure cuff and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for obtaining blood pressure measurements employing a user releasable and adjustable blood pressure cuff. In one aspect of the invention, the blood pressure cuff apparatus consists of a first cuff member connected to a mounting surface and rotatable about a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface. The first cuff member is connected to a second cuff member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the first. A blood pressure cuff comprised of a loop adapted to receive the arm of a test subject is connected to the second cuff member. In another aspect of the invention, the elongated flexible band has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the second member of the cuff housing, and the second end is connected to a cuff retainer. The cuff retainer is releasibly latchable from the second member so that the elongated flexible band forms a loop to snugly fit the arm of the test subject with a first circumferential length when the cuff retainer is latched. When the cuff retainer is unlatched, the elongated flexible band forms a loop with a second circumferential length, which allows the arm of the test subject to be easily withdrawn.

1 . A pneumatic blood pressure cuff apparatus for blood pressure measurements, comprising: 
 a first cuff member rotatably connected to a mounting surface and rotatable about a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface;    a second cuff member rotatably connected to the first member and rotatable about a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and    an elongated inflatable flexible band of predetermined length forming a loop connected to the second cuff member, the loop being adapted to receive a limb.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first member is further comprised of a swivel plate adapted to be attached to a support surface.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first member and said second member are rotatably connected using a hinge.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first cuff member is further comprised of an inner cuff housing with a front side adapted to attach the loop, and the second cuff member is further comprised of an outer cuff housing with back side adapted to attach the swivel plate, the inner cuff housing being adapted to be at least partially recessed within the outer cuff housing to form an enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the inner cuff housing and outer cuff housing are further comprised of a top and a bottom side, the outer cuff housing being rotatively coupled to the inner cuff housing by a first pivot screw projecting from the top side of the inner cuff housing through the top side of the outer cuff housing, and a second pivot screw projecting from the bottom side of the inner cuff housing through the bottom side of the outer cuff housing.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said elongated flexible band is comprised of an air-impermeable fabric.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said elongated flexible band is comprised of an air-impermeable elastomer.  
     
     
         8 . A pneumatic blood pressure cuff apparatus for blood pressure measurements, comprising: 
 an elongated flexible band of predetermined length adapted to be inflated, the length having a first and a second end;    a cuff housing attached to a first end of the elongated flexible band; and    a cuff retainer connected to the second end of the elongated flexible band, the cuff retainer being releasably latchable to the cuff housing, wherein the elongated flexible band forms a loop with a first circumferential length when the cuff retainer is in a latched state, and the elongated flexible band forms a loop with a second circumferential length when in the unlatched state, the second circumferential length being greater than the first circumferential length.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cuff retainer is slidably connected to the cuff housing.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the slidable connection is further comprised of at least one linear guide track adapted to permit translation of the cuff retainer relative to the cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the unlatched state.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cuff housing is further comprised of a top surface, and the at least one linear guide track is attached to the top surface of the cuff housing and adapted to permit translation of the cuff retainer relative to the top surface of the cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the unlatched state.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the cuff housing is further comprised of a front surface, and the at least one linear guide track is attached to the front surface of the cuff housing and adapted to permit translation of the cuff retainer relative to the front surface of the cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the unlatched state.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cuff retainer is further comprised of a bottom surface with at least one support rod attached to the bottom surface and projecting away from the cuff retainer in a substantially perpendicular direction, and the cuff housing is further comprised of a top surface with at least one linear bearing adapted to receive the at least one support rod, wherein the at least one support rod and the at least one linear bearing form a slidable connection permitting the cuff retainer to translate away from the cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the unlatched state.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cuff housing is further comprised of a top surface with at least one support rod attached to the top surface and projecting away from the cuff housing in a substantially perpendicular direction, and the cuff retainer is further comprised of a bottom surface with at least one linear bearing adapted to receive the at least one support rod, wherein the at least one support rod and the at least one linear bearing form a slidable connection permitting the cuff retainer to translate away from the cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the unlatched state.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cuff retainer is further comprised of a latching mechanism having an actuator connected to the latching mechanism and the cuff housing is further comprised of a receiver adapted to latchably engage the latching mechanism when the cuff retainer is in the latched position.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the latching mechanism is further comprised of a pawl, and the receiver is an aperture adapted to latchably engage the pawl.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the actuator is further comprised of a manual release knob accessible to the user.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the latching mechanism is further comprised of an electrically actuated solenoid.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the latching mechanism is further comprised of a pneumatically actuated air cylinder.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the cuff housing is further comprised of a pneumatic release valve connected to the elongated flexible band which rapidly depressurizes the inflated band when the cuff retainer is released from the latched state.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the pneumatic release valve is further comprised of an electrically actuated valve that permits the inflated band to be rapidly depressurized when an electrical switch is actuated.  
     
     
         22 . A pneumatic blood pressure cuff apparatus for blood pressure measurements, comprising: 
 an elongated flexible band of predetermined width and length, the length having a first and a second end, the elongated flexible band having at least one air impermeable compartment adapted to be inflated;    a cuff housing with a first side and a second side, the first side being rotatably mounted to a mounting surface and capable of a first rotation about a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface, and a second side which is hingeably connected to the first side and capable of a second rotation about a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said first axis, wherein the first and second rotations allow the apparatus to be ergonomically adjusted to a limb of a test subject;    a cuff retainer releasably connected to the second side of the cuff housing and having a latched state and a released state, the cuff retainer being attached to the second end of the elongated flexible band to form a loop with a first circumferential length for snugly receiving a limb when the cuff retainer is in the latched state and forming a loop with a second circumferential length which is larger than the first when the cuff retainer is in the released state; and    a cuff release connected to the cuff retainer to select the latched state and the released state.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first side is further comprised of an inner cuff housing and the second side is further comprised of an outer cuff housing, the inner cuff housing being at least partially recessible within the outer cuff housing, wherein the inner cuff housing and the outer cuff housing are pivotally connected to form the second axis of rotation.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the inner cuff housing is further comprised of a swivel plate that forms the first axis of rotation, which is further adapted to be mounted to a fixed surface.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the cuff retainer is further comprised of a bottom side having at least one support rod projecting substantially perpendicular therefrom, and the outer cuff housing has at least one linear bearing adapted to receive the at least one support rod, the support rod and the linear bearing thus allowing the the cuff retainer to move away from the outer cuff housing when the cuff retainer is in the released state.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the cuff release is further comprised of a latching mechanism with a pawl adapted to latchably engage an aperture on the second member adapted to receive the pawl.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said cuff release is further comprised of a latching mechanism with a pawl on said second member adapted to latchably engage a member on said cuff retainer adapted to receive said pawl.  
     
     
         28 . A method of measuring blood pressure with a user positionable and releasable pneumatic blood pressure cuff apparatus, comprising: 
 positioning a blood pressure cuff on the limb of a test subject by contemporaneously manipulating the blood pressure cuff about a first axis of rotation, and a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said first axis, the contemporaneous manipulation allowing the apparatus to be adaptibly adjusted to the body position of the test subject;    supplying a pressurized fluid to the inflatable flexible band until the flow of blood in an artery of the test subject is fully constricted; band;    detecting the flow of blood through an artery in the test subject as the pressurized fluid escapes from the inflatable flexible band to make a blood pressure measurement;    releasing the blood pressure cuff apparatus from the limb of a test subject by simultaneously increasing the circumferential length of the inflatable flexible band and releasing the pressurized fluid.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of inserting the limb in the loop and latching an end of the loop to the blood pressure cuff apparatus to confine the limb snugly, and contemporaneously manipulating the apparatus about the first and second axes of rotation to adaptibly adjust the blood pressure cuff apparatus to the test subject's body position.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of unlatching an end of the loop and translating the end away from blood pressure cuff apparatus.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the step of releasing is further comprised of actuating a pneumatic release valve to release said pressurized fluid.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the step of releasing is further comprised of manipulating a manual release accessible to the test subject.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the step of releasing is further comprised of determining the completion of the blood pressure test, and signaling the test subject to manipulate the manual release.