Blood pressure measuring apparatus

Abstract

A blood pressure measuring apparatus includes an inflatable sleeve adapted to be wrapped about a limb of a patient. The sleeve includes an interior and at least one socket provided on an exterior surface of the sleeve, the socket being fluidly connected to the interior of the sleeve. A gage is directly attached to the sleeve socket through attachment of a mating engagement portion. A pneumatic bulb is also attached fluidly to the sleeve through a receiving port which is provided on at least one of the socket and the gage.

1. A blood pressure measuring apparatus comprising:
 an inflatable sleeve adapted to be wrapped about a limb of a patient, said sleeve including an interior and at least one socket provided in an exterior surface of said sleeve, said at least one socket including an opening that is fluidly and directly connected to the interior of said inflatable sleeve; 
 a gage housing having an integral mating end releasably fitted directly into said at least one socket provided on the exterior surface of said sleeve; 
 a pneumatic means for inflating said sleeve; and 
 means for attaching said pneumatic means to said sleeve, said attaching means including a receiving means provided on one of said at least one socketand, said mating end of said gage housing and an adapter releasably fitted into said at least one socket. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving means is provided on said socket. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein an axial portion of said socket extends above the exterior surface of said sleeve. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving means includes a port provided on the mating end of said gage housing. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said port is provided a predetermined distance from an end of said mating end of said gage housing along a length thereof. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve includes at least two sockets. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving means includes a port sized for receiving a hose from said pneumatic means. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said gage housing includes an opening at a distal end of said mating end, said opening extending to the interior of said socket. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said gage housing contains an indicating mechanism that is responsive to pressure changes from said sleeve interior. 
     
     
       10. A blood pressure measuring system, said system comprising:
 a unitary flexible sleeve member which is adapted to be wrapped around the limb of a patient, said sleeve member including an exterior surface and an inflatable interior;   a gage housing having a mating end;   a hose adapter; and   at least one socket provided within said exterior surface, said at least one socket including an opening that is fluidly and directly connected to the inflatable interior of said sleeve member, said at least one socket being adapted for interchangeably receiving at least one of said gage housing and said hose adapter, said gage housing and said hose adapter being releasably and directly connected in interchangeable fashion to said at least one socket without intermediate hoses therebetween, and in which each of said gage housing and said hose adapter are mechanically supported solely by said at least one socket when connected to said sleeve member.   
     
     
       11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one socket is secured to the exterior surface of said unitary flexible sleeve member. 
     
     
       12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one socket is welded to the exterior surface of said unitary flexible sleeve member. 
     
     
       13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said sleeve member includes at least a pair of sockets. 
     
     
       14. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one socket includes a substantially cylindrical body having a cavity, said body being substantially recessed within the interior of said unitary flexible sleeve member and including an upper lip that is substantially coplanar with the exterior surface. 
     
     
       15. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one socket is adapted to permit said at least one of said gage housing and said hose adapter to be rotatably supported thereupon.