Pressure of blood monitor

Abstract

A method for monitoring pressure of blood in an artery may include contacting a non-invasive sensor of a pressure of blood monitoring device at an area above an artery of a finger, collecting with the sensor one or more pressure data readings, other than readings corresponding to an air pressure reading, from the area after the contacting and after a pressure is exerted at the area on the sensor; and analyzing with a computing device the one or more pressure data readings to generate at least one of a blood pressure reading and a heart pulse reading.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of determining a cardiac property of a patient using a pressure sensor mounted on a finger of the patient, the method comprising:
 sensing one or more pressure data readings each corresponding to a compression of the pressure sensor by blood in a blood vessel of the finger as the finger exerts a pressure on the blood vessel by bending; and   determining a cardiac property of the patient based on the one or more pressure data readings by a data processing system in data communication with the pressure sensor.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a proportional sensor configured such that a property of the proportional sensor changes linearly in response to a change in compression of the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining the cardiac property includes calculating, by the data processing system, a blood pressure value based on the one or more pressure data readings. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining the cardiac property includes performing an oscillometric analysis by the data processing system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more pressure data readings are sensed in response to sensing a threshold pressure corresponding to compression of the pressure sensor by blood in the blood vessel as the finger bends. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pressure sensor is mounted to a panel strapped to the finger such that ends of the panel engage condyles of the finger and the pressure sensor contacts soft tissue of the finger between the condyles. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the data processing system is mounted to the panel. 
     
     
         28 . A method of measuring pressure of blood, the method comprising:
 supporting a pressure sensor between condyles of a phalanx bone of a finger of a patient, such that the pressure sensor contacts soft tissue of the finger between the condyles when the finger is in a bent position; and   measuring, by the pressure sensor, one or more pressure values based on compression of the pressure sensor by a blood vessel of the finger when the finger is in a bent position.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein supporting the pressure sensor between the condyles includes supporting the pressure sensor by a panel strapped to the finger by a nonstretchable strap such that the panel spans the phalanx bone and ends of the panel press against the condyles. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein supporting the pressure sensor includes supporting the pressure sensor at an adjustable height relative to the panel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising automatically calculating a systolic blood pressure value and a diastolic blood pressure value of the patient based on the measured one or more pressure values. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein supporting the pressure sensor includes supporting the pressure sensor by a brace attached to the finger, and the automatic calculation is performed by a computing device mounted to the brace. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising measuring at least a second pressure value based on compression of the pressure sensor by the blood vessel as the finger bends from an unbent position to a bent position. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein measuring the second pressure value includes automatically measuring the second pressure value in response to sensing a nonzero compression of the pressure sensor by the blood vessel as the finger bends from the unbent position. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the pressure sensor is a capacitive sensor, and measuring the one or more pressure values includes measuring a change in capacitance based on the compression of the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein measuring the one or more pressure values includes automatically sensing a plurality of pressure data values at predetermined time intervals as the finger bends from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
         37 . A blood pressure sensing device comprising:
 a brace configured to span a phalanx bone of a finger, such that first and second ends of the brace are supported by respective condyles of the phalanx bone;   a pressure sensor mounted to a central portion of the brace such that, when the first and second ends of the brace are supported by the respective condyles of the phalanx bone, the pressure sensor is disposed between the condyles of the phalanx bone adjacent soft tissue of the finger; and   a nonstretchable strap configured to wrap around a portion of the finger to snugly secure the brace to the finger with the first and second ends of the brace supported by the respective condyles.   
     
     
         38 . The blood pressure sensing device of  claim 37 , wherein the pressure sensor is disposed within a chamber of the brace, and wherein the chamber is configured to hold the pressure sensor at an adjustable height relative to the finger. 
     
     
         39 . The blood pressure sensing device of  claim 37 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a proportional sensor configured such that a property of the proportional sensor changes linearly in response to a change in compression of the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The blood pressure sensing device of  claim 39 , wherein the property of the proportional sensor is a capacitance.