Automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject according to so-called oscillometric method.

[0004] 2. Related Art Statement

[0005] The oscillometric blood-pressure measuring method is carried out as follows: A pressing pressure of an inflatable cuff which is wound around, e.g., an upper arm of a living subject, that is, a cuff pressure is slowly changed, and a blood pressure of the subject is determined based on the change of an oscillatory component occurring to the cuff during the changing of the cuff pressure (i.e., the change of respective amplitudes of respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of a cuff pulse wave with respect to the change of cuff pressure). An automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus which employs the oscillometric method can measure a blood pressure at a front neck, a finger, or an inferior limb of a living subject where it is difficult to measure a blood pressure according to a microphone-using method. In addition, the microphone-using method requires a microphone to be accurately positioned on an artery of the subject, whereas the oscillometric method just needs the cuff to be wound around a portion of the subject. Thus, the oscillometric method can be easily carried out by both skilled and non-skilled operators. Moreover, the oscillometric method can be carried out at a noisy place, or on a child or an in-shock patient who produces small Korotkoff sounds only. Thus, the oscillometric-type automatic blood-pressure measuring devices have come into wide use.

[0006] However, according to the oscillometric method, a blood pressure is determined based on the change of respective amplitudes of respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff during the slow changing of cuff pressure, on the assumption that the blood pressure of the subject does not change during the changing of cuff pressure. More specifically described, it is assumed that respective amplitudes A, and respective prescribed points, such as minimal values (i.e., diastolic pressures) or maximal values (i.e., systolic pressures), of respective pulses of a blood-pressure wave, shown in FIG. 1A, do not change during the changing of cuff pressure.

[0007] However, in an actual blood-pressure measurement, the cardiac output of the subject may change during the changing of cuff pressure, so that as shown in FIG. 1B, the respective amplitudes A of respective pulses of the blood-pressure wave may change, or so that as shown in FIG. 1C, the amplitudes A may not change but the blood pressure values may change. In some cases, both the amplitudes A and the blood pressure values may change. If the cardiac output or the blood pressure largely changes during the blood-pressure measurement, the envelope of respective amplitudes of respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave with respect to the cuff pressure deforms, which leads to determining an inaccurate blood pressure or even failing to determine a blood pressure.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which automatically measures a blood pressure of a living subject with high accuracy.

[0009] The Inventor has carried out extensive studies and found the following facts: When amplitude of a blood-pressure waveform changes, amplitude of a volumetric pulse wave also changes. Therefore, if the same corrections to correct respective amplitudes of a volumetric pulse wave obtained during the changing of pressure of an inflatable cuff, to a predetermined value, are applied to respective amplitudes of a cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff during the changing of the cuff pressure, an accurate blood pressure can be determined based on the thus corrected amplitudes of the cuff pulse wave. In addition, when blood pressure changes, pulse period also changes. Therefore, if blood pressure values are estimated based on pulse period values obtained during the changing of the cuff pressure, and the same corrections to correct the respective blood pressure values to a predetermined value, are applied to respective values of the cuff pressure at respective times of detection of the pulse period values, an accurate blood pressure can be determined based on the thus corrected values of the cuff pressure. Moreover, if those two inventions are combined, a more accurate blood pressure can be determined. Moreover, if a pulse pressure (i.e., an amplitude of a blood-pressure waveform) is estimated, based on two successive pulse period values obtained during the changing of the cuff pressure, according to a known technique, and the same corrections to correct respective pulse pressure values, determined based on respective pairs of successive pulse period values obtained during the changing of the cuff pressure, to a predetermined value, are applied to respective amplitudes of a cuff pulse wave occurring to the cuff during the changing of the cuff pressure, an accurate blood pressure can be determined based on the thus corrected amplitudes of the cuff pulse wave. Furthermore, if this invention is combined with the above-indicated second invention, a more accurate blood pressure can be determined.

[0010] The above object has been achieved by the present invention. According to the first invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a first portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed; a volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject and which detects, from the second portion of the subject, a volumetric pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a correction-factor determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined by the correction-factor determining means for the each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, an amplitude of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the volumetric pulse wave, and thereby iteratively determining a corrected amplitude of the one heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave; and a blood-pressure determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the pressure of the cuff.

[0011] According to this invention, the correction-factor determining means iteratively determines, for each of the pulses of the volumetric pulse wave detected by the volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of the each pulse to a predetermined value, and the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means iteratively multiplies, by the correction factor determined for the each of the pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, an amplitude of one of the pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse of the volumetric pulse wave, and thereby iteratively determines a corrected amplitude of the one pulse of the cuff pulse wave. The thus determined corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes are free of the influence of change of cardiac output of the subject during the changing of pressure of the cuff. And, the blood-pressure determining means determines a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the pressure of the cuff. Therefore, the thus determined blood pressure enjoys a high accuracy.

[0012] According to the second invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed; a heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device which detects, from the subject, a heartbeat-synchronous wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a pulse-period determining means for iteratively determining a pulse period of the subject based on a time interval between respective prescribed periodic points of each pair of successive heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the heartbeat-synchronous wave detected by the heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device during the changing of the pressure of the cuff an estimated-blood-pressure determining means for iteratively determining an estimated blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on each of the pulse periods iteratively determined by the pulse-period determining means, according to a predetermined relationship between estimated blood pressure and pulse period; a blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for iteratively determining, for the each of the pulse periods, a blood-pressure correction value to correct a corresponding one of the estimated blood pressures iteratively determined by the estimated-blood-pressure determining means, to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for subtracting, from a pressure of the cuff at a time of detection of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the pulse periods, the blood-pressure correction value determined by the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for the each of the pulse periods, and thereby determining a corrected pressure of the cuff for the each of the pulse periods; and a blood-pressure determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of respective amplitudes of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the respective corrected pressures of the cuff determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for the respective pulse periods.

[0013] According to this invention, the estimated-blood-pressure determining means iteratively determines an estimated blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on each of the pulse periods, and the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means iteratively determines, for the each of the pulse periods, a blood-pressure correction value to correct a corresponding one of the estimated blood pressures, to a predetermined value. The corrected-cuff-pressure determining means subtracts, from a pressure of the cuff at a time of detection of one of the pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the pulse periods, the blood-pressure correction value determined for the each of the pulse periods, and thereby determines a corrected pressure of the cuff for the each of the pulse periods. The thus determined corrected pressure values of the cuff would be detected at respective times of detection of respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave in a state in which there would be no influence of change of blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the cuff pressure. And, the blood-pressure determining means determines a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of respective amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the respective corrected pressure values of the cuff determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means. Therefore, the thus determined blood pressure enjoys a high accuracy.

[0014] According to the third invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a first portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed; a volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device which is adapted to be worn on a second portion of the subject and which detects, from the second portion of the subject, a volumetric pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a correction-factor determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, a correction factor to correct an amplitude of the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined by the correction-factor determining means for the each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the volumetric pulse wave, an amplitude of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the volumetric pulse wave, and thereby iteratively determining a corrected amplitude of the one heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave; a heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device which detects, from the subject, a heartbeat-synchronous wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a pulse-period determining means for iteratively determining a pulse period of the subject based on a time interval between respective prescribed periodic points of each pair of successive heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the heartbeat-synchronous wave detected by the heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, an estimated-blood-pressure determining means for iteratively determining an estimated blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on each of the pulse periods iteratively determined by the pulse-period determining means, according to a predetermined relationship between estimated blood pressure and pulse period; a blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for iteratively determining, for the each of the pulse periods, a blood-pressure correction value to correct a corresponding one of the estimated blood pressures iteratively determined by the estimated-blood-pressure determining means, to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for subtracting, from a pressure of the cuff at a time of detection of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the pulse periods, the blood-pressure correction value determined by the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for the each of the pulse periods, and thereby determining a corrected pressure of the cuff for the each of the pulse periods; and a blood-pressure determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means, with respect to the respective corrected pressures of the cuff determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for the respective pulse periods.

[0015] According to this invention, the blood-pressure determining means determines a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the respective corrected pressures of the cuff. Since the corrected pressure values of the cuff would be detected at respective times of detection of respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave in a state in which there would be no influence of change of blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the cuff pressure, and the corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes are free of the influence of change of cardiac output of the subject during the changing of pressure of the cuff, the determined blood pressure enjoys a higher accuracy.

[0016] According to the fourth invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed; a heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device which detects, from the subject, a heartbeat-synchronous wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a pulse-period determining means for iteratively determining a pulse period of the subject based on a time interval between respective prescribed periodic points of each pair of successive heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the heartbeat-synchronous wave detected by the heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device during the changing of the pressure of the cuff; an estimated-pulse-pressure determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the pulse periods iteratively determined by the pulse-period determining means, an estimated pulse pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on each pair of successive pulse periods of the pulse periods, according to a predetermined relationship between pulse pressure and a pair of successive pulse periods; a correction-factor determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the estimated pulse pressures iteratively determined by the estimated pulse pressure determining means, a correction factor to correct the each estimated pulse pressure to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined by the correction-factor determining means for the each of the estimated pulse pressures, an amplitude of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the estimated pulse pressures, and thereby iteratively determining a corrected amplitude of the one heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave; and a blood-pressure determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the pressure of the cuff.

[0017] According to this invention, the correction-factor determining means iteratively determines, for each of the estimated pulse pressures iteratively determined by the estimated pulse pressure determining means, a correction factor to correct the each estimated pulse pressure to a predetermined value, and the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means iteratively multiplies, by the correction factor determined for the each of the estimated pulse pressures, an amplitude of one of the pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the estimated pulse pressures, and thereby iteratively determines a corrected amplitude of the one pulse of the cuff pulse wave. The thus determined corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes are free of the influence of change of cardiac output of the subject during the changing of pressure of the cuff. And, the blood-pressure determining means determines a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the pressure of the cuff. Therefore, the determined blood pressure enjoys a higher accuracy.

[0018] According to the fifth invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically measuring a blood pressure of a living subject, comprising an inflatable cuff which is adapted to be wound around a first portion of the subject, a cuff pulse wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses occurring to the cuff when a pressure in the cuff is changed; a heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device which detects, from the subject, a heartbeat-synchronous wave including a plurality of heartbeat-synchronous pulses; a pulse-period determining means for iteratively determining a pulse period of the subject based on a time interval between respective prescribed periodic points of each pair of successive heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the heartbeat-synchronous wave detected by the heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, an estimated-pulse-pressure determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the pulse periods iteratively determined by the pulse-period determining means, an estimated pulse pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on each pair of successive pulse periods of the pulse periods, according to a predetermined relationship between pulse pressure and a pair of successive pulse periods; a correction-factor determining means for iteratively determining, for each of the estimated pulse pressures iteratively determined by the estimated pulse pressure determining means, a correction factor to correct the each estimated pulse pressure, to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means for iteratively multiplying, by the correction factor determined by the correction-factor determining means for the each of the estimated pulse pressures, an amplitude of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the estimated pulse pressures, and thereby iteratively determining a corrected amplitude of the one heartbeat-synchronous pulse of the cuff pulse wave; an estimated-blood-pressure determining means for iteratively determining an estimated blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the pressure of the cuff, based on the each of the pulse periods iteratively determined by the pulse-period determining means, according to a predetermined relationship between estimated blood pressure and pulse period; a blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for iteratively determining, for the each of the pulse periods, a blood-pressure correction value to correct a corresponding one of the estimated blood pressures iteratively determined by the estimated-blood-pressure determining means, to a predetermined value; a corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for subtracting, from a pressure of the cuff at a time of detection of one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each of the pulse periods, the blood-pressure correction value determined by the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means for the each of the pulse periods, and thereby determining a corrected pressure of the cuff for the each of the pulse periods; and a blood-pressure determining means for determining a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means, with respect to the respective corrected pressures of the cuff determined-by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means for the respective pulse periods.

[0019] According to this invention, the blood-pressure determining means determines a blood pressure of the subject based on a change of the respective corrected amplitudes of the respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave, with respect to the respective corrected pressures of the cuff. Since the corrected pressure values of the cuff would be detected at respective times of detection of respective pulses of the cuff pulse wave in a state in which there would be no influence of change of blood pressure of the subject during the changing of the cuff pressure, and the corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes are free of the influence of change of cardiac output of the subject during the changing of pressure of the cuff, the determined blood pressure enjoys a higher accuracy.

[0020] The above and optional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1A is a graph of a blood-pressure waveform that does not change;

[0022] FIG. 1B is a graph of a blood-pressure waveform indicating that amplitudes A change;

[0023] FIG. 1C is a graph of a blood-pressure waveform indicating that blood pressure changes;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view for explaining a construction of an automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a graph showing respective examples of a photoelectric pulse wave detected by a photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor and an electrocardiograph wave detected by an electrocardiograph-signal detecting device;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining essential functions of a control device of the automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between estimated pulse pressure EPM and two successive pulse periods T;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a graph showing a predetermined relationship between estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAand pulse period T;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a flow chart representing a signal-obtaining routine according to which the control device of FIG. 2 obtains signals to determine a blood pressure BP;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a flow chart representing a signal-processing routine according to which the control device of FIG. 2 processes the signals obtained according to the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 7 and thereby determines the blood pressure;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view for explaining a construction of another automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus as another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining essential functions of a control device of the automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus of FIG. 9;

[0033] FIG. 11 is a flow chart representing a signal-obtaining routine according to which the control device of FIG. 9 obtains signals to determine a blood pressure BP; and

[0034] FIG. 12 is a flow chart representing a signal-processing routine according to which the control device of FIG. 9 processes the signals obtained according to the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 11 and thereby determines the blood pressure.

[0035] Hereinafter, there will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail by reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view for explaining a construction of an automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 8 to which the present invention is applied.

[0036] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 designate an inflatable cuff which includes a belt-like cloth bag and a rubber bag accommodated in the cloth bag and which is adapted to be wound around, e.g., a right upper arm 12 of a patient as a living subject. The cuff 10 is connected to a pressure sensor 14, a deflation control valve 16, and an air pump 18 via a piping 20. The deflation control valve 16 is selectively placed in a pressure-supply position in which the control valve 16 permits a pressurized air to be supplied from the air pump 18 to the cuff 10, a slow-deflation position in which the control valve 16 permits the pressurized air to be slowly discharged from the cuff 10, and a quick-deflation position in which the control valve 16 permits the pressurized air to be quickly discharged from the cuff 10.

[0037] The pressure sensor 14 detects an air pressure P_Kin the cuff 10, and supplies a pressure signal SP representing the detected pressure P_K, to each of a static-pressure filter circuit 22 and a pulse-wave filter circuit 24. The static-pressure filter circuit 22 includes a low-pass filter and extracts, from the pressure signal SP, a static-pressure component contained in the pressure signal SP, i.e., a cuff pressure signal SC representing the static pressure in the cuff 10. The cuff pressure signal SC is supplied to a control device 28 via an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 26. The pulse-wave filter circuit 24 includes a band-pass filter and extracts, from the pressure signal SP, an oscillating component having predetermined frequencies, i.e., a cuff-pulse-wave signal SM₁. The cuff-pulse-wave signal SM₁is supplied to the control device 28 via an A/D converter 29. The cuff-pulse-wave signal SM₁represents a cuff pulse wave W_K, i.e., a pressure pulse wave or an oscillatory pressure wave which is produced from a brachial artery, not shown, of the upper arm 12 of the patient in synchronism with the heartbeat of the patient and is propagated to the cuff 10.

[0038] The control device 28 is provided by a so-called microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU) 30, a read only memory (ROM) 32, a random access memory (RAM) 34 and an input-and-output (I/O) port, not shown. The CPU 30 processes signals according to the control programs pre-stored in the ROM 32 by utilizing the temporary-storage function of the RAM 34, and supplies drive signals via the I/O port to respective drive circuits, not shown, associated with the deflation control valve 16 and the air pump 18 so as to change the air pressure in the cuff 10 and perform an oscillometric blood-pressure measuring operation to measure a blood-pressure value BP of the patient, such as a systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYSand/or a diastolic blood-pressure value BP_DIA. In addition, the CPU 30 operates a display device 36 to display the thus measured blood-pressure value BP. The display device 36 may include a cathode ray tube (CRT).

[0039] The measuring apparatus 8 further includes a photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 functioning as a volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device. The sensor 40 detects a volumetric pulse wave (i.e., a plethysmogram) representing a volume of blood present in peripheral blood vessels of the subject. The sensor 40 is worn on, e.g., an end portion of a finger of the other arm than the arm around which the cuff 10 is wound. The photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 has the same construction as that of a known sensor used to detect pulse rate. More specifically described, the sensor 40 includes a housing 42 that can accommodate a portion of a living subject, such as an end portion of a finger; a light emitting element 44 as a light source that is disposed on one of opposite walls of the housing 42 and emits, toward the skin of the subject, a red or infrared light in a frequency range that is reflected by hemoglobin, preferably a light having a wavelength of, e.g., about 800 nm, that is not influenced by blood oxygen saturation; and a light receiving element 46 that is disposed on the other wall of the housing 42 such that the light receiving element 46 is opposed to the light emitting element 44, and detects the light transmitted through the portion of the subject. The light receiving element 46 produces a photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂representing the detected amount of light, i.e., volume of blood present in capillaries of the portion of the subject, and supplies the photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂to the control device 28 via an A/D converter 48.

[0040] The measuring apparatus 8 further includes an electrocardiograph (ECG) signal detecting device 50 which continuously detects an ECG wave WH_n(n is a natural number), i.e., so-called electrocardiogram (ECG) representing an action potential of cardiac muscle of the subject, through a plurality of electrodes 52 which are adapted to be adhered to respective prescribed locations of chest of the subject, and supplies an ECG signal SE representing the detected ECG wave WH_n, to the control device 28 via an A/D converter 54. Since the ECG wave WH_nis a heartbeat-synchronous wave that is produced in synchronism with the heartbeat of the subject, the ECG signal detecting device 50 functions as a heartbeat-synchronous-wave detecting device. FIG. 3 shows respective examples of a photoelectric pulse wave WL_ndetected by the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 and an ECG wave WH_ndetected by the ECG signal detecting device 50. As shown in FIG. 3, each of heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the ECG wave WH_nincludes a P-wave, a Q-wave, an R-wave, and an S-wave.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining essential functions of the control device 28. In the figure, a cuff-pressure changing means 60 operates, based on the cuff pressure signal SC supplied from the static-pressure filter circuit 22, the air pump 18 and the deflation control valve 16 to quickly increase the pressing pressure of the cuff 10, i.e., the cuff pressure P_Cup to a prescribed first target pressure P_CM1(e.g., 180 mmHg) which would be higher than a systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYSof the patient and subsequently slowly decrease the cuff pressure P_C, at a rate of from 2 to 3 mmHg/sec, down to a prescribed second target pressure P_CM2(e.g., 60 mmHg) which would be lower than a diastolic blood-pressure value BP_DIAof the patient.

[0042] An average-amplitude determining means 62 determines respective amplitudes AL_nof the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave which is continuously detected by the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 while the cuff pressure P_Cis slowly decreased by the cuff-pressure changing means 60, and additionally determines an average AL_perof the thus determined amplitudes AL_n. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a difference between a maximal value and a minimal value of each heartbeat-synchronous pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave is defined as an amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_n.

[0043] A correction-factor determining means 64 determines, for each heartbeat-synchronous pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave detected by the photoelectric-pulse-wave 40, a correction factor K_nas a ratio of the average amplitude AL_perdetermined by the average-amplitude determining means 62, to the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_n, according to the following expression (1):

[0044] K_n=AL_per/AL_n  (1)

[0045] Since the average amplitude AL_peris obtained by multiplying the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_nby the correction factor K_n, the correction factor K_nis a factor for correcting the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_nto a predetermined value (i.e., the average amplitude AL_per).

[0046] A corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66 multiplies an amplitude AK_nof each of respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that respectively correspond to the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave, by the correction factor K_ndetermined for a corresponding one of the pulses WL_nby the correction-factor determining means 64, and thereby determines a corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the each heartbeat-synchronous pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, according to the following expression (2):

[0047] AK_n′=AK_nXK_n  (2)

[0048] The each pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave and the corresponding pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave are produced by a same heartbeat of the patient. In the case where the cuff 10 is worn on the patient at the position which is more proximal to the heart of the patient than the position where the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 is worn, the each pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave is followed by the corresponding pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave.

[0049] As described above, the correction factor K_ndetermined by the correction-factor determining means 64 is a factor for correcting the amplitude AL_nof each pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave to a predetermined value. That is, the correction factors K_nare factors for removing respective fluctuations of the respective amplitudes AL_nof the respective pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave detected during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C. It can be speculated that the same fluctuations of amplitudes would commonly occur to both the photoelectric pulse wave detected at the position where the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 is worn and the cuff pulse wave detected at the position where the cuff 10 is worn. Therefore, the respective corrected amplitudes AK_n′ of the respective heartbeat-synchronous pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, obtained by multiplying the respective amplitudes AK_nof the pulses WK_nby the corresponding correction factors K_n, are free of the respective fluctuations of the amplitudes AK_nof the pulses WK_ndetected during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0050] A pulse-period determining means 68 determines, based on the ECG wave WH_ndetected by the ECG-signal detecting device 50 during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_Cunder the control of the cuff-pressure changing means 60, a pulse period T_n(seconds), i.e., a time interval between respective prescribed periodic portions of each pair of successive heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the ECG wave WH_n. For example, the pulse-period determining means 68 determines, as each pulse period T_n, a time interval between respective R-waves of each pair of successive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1, of the ECG wave.

[0051] An estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70 employs a predetermined relationship, shown in FIG. 5, among estimated pulse pressure EPM and two successive pulse periods T successively determined by the pulse-period determining means 68, and determines, for each of the pulse periods T_nsuccessively determined, an estimated pulse pressure EPM at the time of detection of each pulse WH_n+1of the ECG wave, based on each pair of successive pulse periods T_n−1, T_n.

[0052] The relationship shown in FIG. 5 is experimentally determined, in advance, and is used in the following manner: First, one curve is selected, based on the first one T_n−1of each pair of actually determined successive pulse periods T_n−1, T_n(hereinafter, referred to as the first pulse period T_n−1), from a plurality of curves f_m(m=1, 2, 3, . . . ) each of which represents a relationship between estimated pulse pressure EPM and second one T_nof each pair of successive pulse periods T_n−1, T_n, (hereinafter, referred to as second pulse period T_n). Then, an estimated pulse pressure EPM is determined, according to the thus selected curve f_m, based on the actually determined second pulse period T_n. The estimated pulse pressure EPM determined according to the relationship shown in FIG. 5 is an estimated pulse pressure EPM at the time of detection of the second one WH_n+1, of each pair of successive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that are used to determine the actual second pulse period T_n.

[0053] It can be speculated that the reason why pulse period T and estimated pulse pressure EPM has the relationship shown in FIG. 5 is as follows: The longer the diastolic period of the heart is, the more blood the heart stores. Therefore, in a systolic period after a longer diastolic period, more blood is outputted from the heart. In addition, cardiac output values correspond, one by one, to pulse pressure values PM. Thus, each curve f_mindicates, within a range in which pulse period T is short, a greater estimated pulse pressure EPM corresponds to a longer pulse period T. However, the blood amount that can be stored in the heart has an upper limit, and accordingly the cardiac output has an upper limit. Therefore, each curve fm indicates, in a range in which pulse period T is longer than a certain level, that estimated pulse pressure EPM does not increase any more as pulse period T increases. Meanwhile, if a short first pulse period T_n−1occurs because of, e.g., an arrhythmic pulse, the heart starts the following diastolic period before it contracts a sufficient amount in the preceding systolic period corresponding to the first pulse period T_n−1. Therefore, in the following diastolic period corresponding to a second pulse period T_n, the heart expands a little amount only and, in the following systolic period, the heart outputs a little amount of blood only. Thus, the curves f_mindicate, for an arbitrary second pulse period T_n, that a smaller estimated pulse pressure EPM corresponds to a shorter first pulse period T_n−1. However, the total number of the curves f_mis finite because the curves f_mcorrespond to predetermined first pulse period values T_n−1, respectively. Hence, one curve corresponding to the predetermined first pulse period T_n−1, that is the nearest to an actually measured first pulse period T_n−1is selected from the curves fm.

[0054] An estimated-blood-pressure determining means 71 determines, according to a prescribed relationship between estimated blood pressure EBP and pulse period T, an estimated blood pressure EBP (e.g., an estimated mean blood pressure EBP_MEAN, an estimated systolic blood pressure EBP_SYS, an estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIA, or an estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MIDas an average of estimated systolic blood pressure EBP_SYSand estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIA) of the patient during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C, based on each of the pulse period values T_nactually determined by the pulse-period determining means 68, or both the each pulse period value T_nand the estimated pulse pressure value EPM determined by the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70 for the each pulse period value T_n.

[0055] Here, a relationship between blood pressure BP and pulse period T is explained. Blood pressure BP consists of static-pressure component and pulse pressure PM. Thus, blood pressure BP can be obtained by adding pulse pressure PM to the static-pressure component. Diastolic blood pressure BP_DIAmeans blood pressure when the heart is not outputting blood, i.e., the static pressure free of the pulse pressure PM. FIG. 6 shows a relationship between estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAand pulse period T, that is experimentally determined in advance. The reason why estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAand pulse period T has the relationship shown in FIG. 6 is as follows: If a long pulse period T occurs because of an arrhythmic pulse, a long diastolic period also occurs. In addition, since the heart does not output blood in the diastolic period, the blood pressure BP lowers during the diastolic period. Therefore, the longer the pulse period T is, the lower the diastolic blood pressure BP_DIAcorresponding to the long pulse period T is.

[0056] Each of systolic blood pressure BP_SYS, mean blood pressure BP_MEAN, and middle blood pressure BP_MIDis obtained by adding, to diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA(i.e., the static pressure), an additional pressure α that is determined based on pulse pressure PM. More specifically described, systolic blood pressure BP_SYSis obtained by adding, to diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA, pulse pressure PM as a whole as additional pressure α; and mean blood pressure BP_MEANis obtained by adding, to diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA, a pressure, as additional pressure α, that corresponds to the center of gravity of an area defined by the pulse waveform. Since the pressure corresponding to the center of gravity of area defined by the pulse waveform can approximately be replaced with one third of pulse pressure PM, mean blood pressure BP_MEANis obtained by adding, to diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA, one third of pulse pressure PM as additional pressure α. Middle blood pressure BP_MIDis obtained by adding, to diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA, one second of pulse pressure PM as additional pressure α. Thus, estimated systolic blood pressure EBP_SYS, estimated mean blood pressure EBP_MEAN, and estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MIDcan be determined by using, in place of pulse pressure PM, estimated pulse pressure EPM determined by the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70.

[0057] In the case where an estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAis determined according to the relationship shown in FIG. 6 based on an actual second pulse period T_n, the thus determined, estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAis an estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAat the time of detection of the first one of each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that are used to determine the actual second pulse period T_n. On the other hand, as described above, the estimated pulse pressure EPM determined by the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70 according to the relationship shown in FIG. 5 is an estimated pulse pressure EPM at the time of detection of the second one WH₊₁, of the each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1that are used to determine the actual second pulse period T_n. Thus, in this case, the estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAand the estimated pulse pressure EPM have a time difference corresponding to one heartbeat of the patient. Thus, an estimated systolic blood pressure EBP_SYS(n), an estimated mean blood pressure EBP_MEAN(n), and an estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n), all corresponding to each current pulse period T_n, are determined based on an estimated pulse pressure EPM_ndetermined based on two consecutive pulse periods T_n−1, T_n−2consisting of the last pulse period T_n−1preceding the each current pulse period T_nand the second last pulse period T_n−2preceding the last pulse period T_n−1, and an estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIA(n)determined based on the each current pulse period T_n. The thus determined, estimated blood pressure values EBP_SYS(n), etc. are estimated blood pressure values EBP at the time of detection of the first one of each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that are used to determine the each current pulse period T_n.

[0058] A blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72 determines, for each pulse period T_n, a blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nto correct the estimated blood pressure EBP_ndetermined by the estimated-blood-pressure determining means 71 for the each pulse period T_n, into a predetermined value. For example, in the case where estimated middle blood pressure values EBP_MID(n)are determined by the estimated-blood-pressure determining means 71, the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72 determines an average of the respective estimated middle blood pressure values EBP_MID(n), that is, an average estimated middle blood pressure value MID_PER, and determines, as blood-pressure correction value ΔP_n, a value (=EBP_MID(n)−MID_PER) obtained by subtracting average estimated middle blood pressure value MID_PERfrom each estimated middle blood pressure value EBP_MID(n). Since, as explained above, each estimated middle blood pressure value EBP_MID(n)is an estimated blood pressure values EBP at the time of detection of the first one of each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that are used to determine each pulse period T_n, each blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nalso relates to the estimated blood pressure values EBP at the time of detection of the first pulse WH_n. Therefore, each blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nmeans an amount of change of blood pressure BP of the patient at the time of detection of the first one of each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1, of the ECG wave that are used to determine each pulse period T_n, from the average blood pressure BP of the patient during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0059] A corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 first identifies one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to each pulse period T_nfor which the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nhas been determined by the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72, and subtracts the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nfrom the cuff pressure P_C(hereinafter, referred to as cuff pressure PRS_n) at the time of detection of the amplitude AK_n(or peak) of the one pulse WK_n, so as to determine a corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′. In the case where the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nis determined in the above-described manner, the one one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse period T_nis one pulse WK_ncorresponding to the first one of each pair of consecutive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that are used to determine the each pulse period T_n. The each pulse WH_nof the ECG wave and the corresponding pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave are produced by a same heartbeat of the patient, as is the case with the corrected-cuff-pulse-amplitude determining means 66.

[0060] Here, the meaning of the corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′ is explained in more detail. A value (=PRS_n−EBP_MID(n)) obtained by subtracting, from the cuff-pressure value PRS_nat the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof each pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, the estimated blood pressure (e.g., the estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)corresponding to the each pulse WK_n, can be expressed by the right side of the following expression (3) using the average estimated middle pressure MID_per:

[0061] PRS_n−EBP_MID(n)=PRS_n−EBP_MID(n)+MID_per−MID_per  (3)

[0062] The right-hand side of the above expression (3) can be rewritten into the following expression (4) or (5):

[0063] (PRS_n−(EBP_MID(n)−MID_per))−MID_per  (4)

[0064] (PRS_n−ΔP_n)−MID_per  (5)

[0065] When the left-hand side of the expression (3) is compared with the expression (4) or (5), the estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)corresponds to the average estimated middle blood pressure MID_per, and the cuff pressure PRS_ncorresponds to the corrected cuff pressure (PRS_n−ΔP_n). Therefore, if the amplitude AK_nof the each cuff pulse observed at the blood pressure EBP_MID(n)and the cuff pressure PRS_nis observed at the blood pressure MID_per, then the cuff pressure should be the corrected cuff pressure (PRS_n−ΔP_n). Thus, the corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′ is for correcting the cuff pressure PRS_nat the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof the each cuff pulse WK_n, to a cuff pressure which is free of the influence of the fluctuation of the blood pressure (i.e., the fluctuation of the pulse pressure) of the patient during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0066] A blood-pressure determining means 76 determines a systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYS, a mean blood-pressure value BP_MEAN, and a diastolic blood-pressure value BP_DIAof the patient, based on the change of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66, with respect to the respective corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74, according to an oscillometric blood-pressure determining algorithm. For example, the determining means 76 determines an envelope of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′, determines a cuff pressure P_Ccorresponding to a rising point of the envelope as the systolic blood-pressure value BPsys, and determines a cuff pressure P_Ccorresponding to a peak point of the envelope as the mean blood-pressure value BP_MEAN.

[0067] FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow charts representing essential functions of the control device 28. FIG. 7 shows a signal-obtaining routine for obtaining signals to determine a blood pressure BP of a patient; and FIG. 8 shows a signal-processing routine for processing the signals obtained according to the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 7 and thereby determining the blood pressure BP.

[0068] According to the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 7, first, the control device 28 carries out Step SA1 (hereinafter, “Step” is omitted, if appropriate) to switch the deflation control valve 16 to its pressure-supply position and operate the air pump 18, so that the pressure in the cuff 10 is quickly increased for a blood-pressure measurement. At SA2, the control device 28 judges whether the cuff pressure P_Chas reached a prescribed first target pressure P_CM1, i.e., 180 mmHg. If a negative judgment is made at SA2, SA2 is repeated till a positive judgment is made. Thus, the increasing of the cuff pressure P_Cis continued.

[0069] Meanwhile, if the cuff pressure P_Cis increased and a positive judgment is made at SA2, the control goes to SA3 to stop the air pump 18 and switch the deflation control valve 16 to its slow-deflation position, so that the pressure in the cuff 10 is slowly decreased at a prescribed rate of 3 mmHg/sec.

[0070] At SA4, the control device 28 reads in the cuff-pressure-pulse signal SM₁supplied from the pulse-wave filter circuit 24, the photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂supplied from the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40, and the ECG signal SE supplied from the ECG-signal detecting device 50, each during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C. At SA5, the control device 28 judges whether the cuff pressure P_Chas decreased down to a prescribed second target pressure P_CM2, i.e., 60 mmHg. If a negative judgment is made at SA5, SA4 and SA5 are repeated till a positive judgment is made at Step SA5. Thus, while the cuff pressure P_Cis slowly decreased, the control device 28 continues reading in the cuff-pressure-pulse signal SM₁, the photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂, and the ECG signal SE.

[0071] Meanwhile, if a positive judgment is made at SA5, the control goes to SA6 to switch the deflation control valve 16 to its quick-deflation position so that the cuff 10 is quickly deflated. Thus, the signal-obtaining routine is finished. SA1, SA2, SA3, SA5 and SA6 correspond to the cuff-pressure changing means 60.

[0072] The signal-obtaining routine is followed by the signal-processing routine shown in FIG. 8. According to the signal-processing routine of FIG. 8, first, the control device 28 carries out SB1 and SB2 corresponding to the average-amplitude determining means 62. At SB1, the control device 28 determines an amplitude AL_nof each of the pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave read in while SA4 and SA5 of FIG. 7 are repeated and the cuff pressure P_Cis slowly decreased. At SB2, the control device 28 determines an average AL_perof the respective amplitudes AL_nof the respective pulses WL_n, determined at SB1.

[0073] Subsequently, at SB3 corresponding to the correction-factor determining means 64, the control device 28 determines a correction factor K_nfor each pulse WL_n, by dividing the average amplitude AL_perdetermined at SB2, by the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_n, determined at SB1, according to the previously-indicated expression (1).

[0074] Then, at SB4 corresponding to the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66, the control device 28 multiplies, by the correction factor K_ndetermined for each pulse WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave at SB3, the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse WL_n, and thereby determines a corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the one pulse WK_n.

[0075] At SB5 corresponding to the pulse-period determining means 68, the control device 28 identifies an R-wave of each of the pulses WH_nof the ECG wave that have been read while Steps SA4 and SA5 of FIG. 7 are repeated and the cuff pressure P_Cis slowly decreased, and additionally determines, based on respective distances among the thus determined R-waves, successive pulse period values T_nduring the blood pressure measuring operation. Then, at SB6 corresponding to the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70, the control device 28 determines an estimated pulse pressure EPM corresponding to each of the pulse period values T_ndetermined at SB5. More specifically described, the control device 28 selects one of the curves f_mshown in FIG. 5, based on the last pulse period T_n−1preceding the each pulse period T_n, and determines an estimated pulse pressure EPM according to the thus selected curve f_mbased on the each pulse period T_n.

[0076] Subsequently, the control goes to Steps SB7 and SB8 corresponding to the estimated-blood-pressure determining means 71. First, at SB7, the control device 28 determines, according to the predetermined relationship between estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAand heart period T, shown in FIG. 6, an estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAbased on each of the pulse period values T_ndetermined at SB5. Then, at SB8, the control device 28 adds half the estimated pulse pressure EPM_ndetermined at SB6 for the each pulse period T_n, i.e., the additional pressure α, to the estimated diastolic blood pressure EBP_DIAdetermined at SB7 for the each pulse period T_n, so as to determine an estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)for the each pulse period T_n.

[0077] Then, the control goes to Steps SB9 and SB10 corresponding to the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72. First, at SB9, the control device 28 determines an average of the respective estimated middle blood pressure values EBP_MID(n)determined at SB8 for the respective pulse period values T_n, that is, an average estimated middle blood pressure MID_PERof the respective estimated middle blood pressure values EBP_MID(n)during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C. Then, at SB10, the control device 28 determines, for each of the pulse period values T_n, a blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nby subtracting the average estimated middle blood pressure MID_perdetermined at SB9, from the estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)determined for the each pulse period value T_nat SB8.

[0078] Subsequently, at SB11, the control device 28 identifies one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses of the cuff pulse wave WK_nthat corresponds to the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_ndetermined for each of the pulse period values T_nat SB10, that is, corresponds to the first one of the two successive pulses WH_n, WH_n+1of the ECG wave that have been used to determine the each pulse period value T_n.

[0079] Then, at SB12, the control device 28 determines a value PRS_nof the cuff pressure P_Cat the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof the one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that has been identified at SB11 as corresponding to the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nfor each of the pulse period values T_n. Then, at SB13 corresponding to the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74, the control device 28 subtracts, from the cuff pressure PRS_ndetermined at SB12, the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_ndetermined at SB10 and corresponding to the cuff pressure PRS_n, and thereby determines a corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′.

[0080] Then, at SB14 corresponding to the blood-pressure determining means 76, the control device 28 determines a systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYS, a mean blood-pressure value BP_MEAN, and a diastolic blood-pressure value BP_DIAof the patient, based on the change of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ determined at SB4, with respect to the respective corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ determined at SB13, according to a well-known oscillometric algorithm. Then, at SB15, the systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYS, etc. determined at SB10 are displayed on the display device 36. Thus, the present routine is finished.

[0081] It emerges from the foregoing description of the illustrated embodiment, that the correction-factor determining means 64 (SB3) determines, for each of the pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave continuously detected by the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40, the correction factor K_nto correct the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_nto the average amplitude AL_per; and the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66 (SB4) multiplies, by the correction factor K_ndetermined for the each pulse WL_n, the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse WL_n, and thereby determines the corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the one pulse WK_nthat is free of the influence of change of cardiac output during the slow changing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0082] In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the estimated-blood-pressure determining means 71 (SB7 and SB8) determines the estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)based on each pulse period T_n; and the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72 (SB9 and SB10) determines, for each pulse period T_n, the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nto correct the estimated middle blood pressure EBP_MID(n)to the average estimated middle blood pressure MID_PER. The corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 (SB13) subtracts, from the cuff pressure PRS_nat the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to each pulse period T_n, the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_ndetermine for the each pulse period T_n, and thereby determines the corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′ that indicates a cuff pressure P_Cwhich would be detected, at the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof the one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, in the state in which there would be no influence of change of blood pressure of the subject. And, the blood-pressure determining means 76 (SB14) determines the blood pressure BP of the subject based on the change of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66 (SB4) with respect to the respective corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 (SB13). Thus, the present apparatus 8 can determine the blood pressure BP with high accuracy.

[0083] Next, there will be described a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as used in the preceding embodiment are used to designate the corresponding elements of the second embodiment and the description thereof is omitted.

[0084] The second embodiment relates to an automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 80 whose construction is shown in the diagrammatic view of FIG. 9. This automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 80 differs from the automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 8, in that the former apparatus 80 does not include the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 or the A/D converter 48 and in that the control device 28 of the former apparatus 80 is operated in a different manner from that in which the control device 28 of the latter apparatus 8 shown in FIG. 2 is operated.

[0085] FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining essential functions of the control device 28 of the automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 80. In the figure, a correction-factor determining means 82 determines a correction factor C_nto correct each of the respective estimated pulse pressure values EPM_ndetermined by the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70 for the respective pulse period values T_n, to a predetermined value, for example, an average estimated pulse pressure EPM_PERof the respective estimated pulse pressure values EPM_nobtained during the blood-pressure measuring operation, according to the following expression (6):

[0086] C_n=EPM_per/EPM_n  (6)

[0087] Each correction factor C_nis obtained by dividing the average estimated pulse pressure EPM_PERby each of the estimated pulse pressure values EPM_n.

[0088] A corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 84 multiplies, by the correction factor C_ndetermined for each of the estimated pulse pressure values EPM_nby the correction-factor determining means 82, an amplitude AK_nof one of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each estimated pulse pressure value EPM_n, and thereby determines a corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, according to the following expression (7):

[0089] AK_n′=AK_nXC_n  (7)

[0090] The each estimated pulse pressure EPM_nand the corresponding one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave are produced by a same heartbeat of the patient.

[0091] The correction factor C_ndetermined by the correction-factor determining means 82 is a factor for correcting the estimated pulse pressure EPM_nto a predetermined value. That is, the correction factors C_nare factors for removing respective fluctuations of the respective estimated pulse pressure values EPM_nobtained during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C. Therefore, the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ obtained by multiplying the respective amplitudes AK_nof the pulses WK_nby the corresponding correction factors C_n, are free of the fluctuations of the cardiac output of the patient during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0092] A blood-pressure determining means 86 determines a systolic blood-pressure value BP_SYS, a mean blood-pressure value BP_MEAN, and a diastolic blood-pressure value BP_DIAof the patient, based on the change of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 84, with respect to the respective corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74, according to an oscillometric blood-pressure determining algorithm.

[0093] FIGS. 11 and 12 are flow charts representing essential functions of the control device 28 shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows a signal-obtaining routine for obtaining signals to determine a blood pressure BP of the patient; and FIG. 12 shows a signal-processing routine for processing the signals obtained according to the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 11 and thereby determining the blood pressure BP.

[0094] In the signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 11, Steps SC1, SC2, SC3, SC5, and SC6 are the same steps as Steps SA1, SA2, SA3, SA5, and SA6 of FIG. 7, respectively.

[0095] Step SC4 shown in FIG. 11 differs from Step SA4 shown in FIG. 7, in that at SC4 the control device 28 does not read in the photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂supplied from the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40. That is, at SC4, the control device 28 reads in the cuff-pressure-pulse signal SM₁supplied from the pulse-wave filter circuit 24, and the ECG signal SE supplied from the ECG-signal detecting device 50, each during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0096] The signal-obtaining routine of FIG. 11 is followed by the signal-processing routine of FIG. 12. First, at SD1 corresponding to the pulse-period determining means 68, the control device 28 identifies an R-wave of each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses WH_nof the ECG wave that have been read while Steps SA4 and SA5 of FIG. 11 are repeated and the cuff pressure P_Cis slowly decreased, and additionally determines, based on respective distances among the thus determined R-waves, successive pulse period values T_nduring the blood pressure measuring operation.

[0097] Then, at SD2 corresponding to the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 70, the control device 28 determines, like at SB6 of FIG. 8, an estimated pulse pressure EPM corresponding to each of the pulse period values T_ndetermined at SD1, based on the each pulse period value T_n. Subsequently, at SD3, the control device 28 determines an average estimated pulse pressure EPM_PERof the respective estimated estimated pulse pressure values EPM_ndetermined at SD2 for the respective pulse period values T_n.

[0098] Then, at SD4 corresponding to the correction-factor determining means 82, the control device 28 determines a correction factor C_nfor each estimated pulse pressure EPM_n, by dividing the average estimated pulse pressure EPM_perdetermined at SD3, by each of the estimated pulse pressure values EPM_ndetermined at SD2, according to the previously-indicated expression (6).

[0099] Then, at SD5 corresponding to the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 84, the control device 28 multiplies, by the correction factor C_ndetermined for each estimated pulse pressure EPM_nat SD4, the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each estimated pulse pressure EPM_n, and thereby determines a corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the one pulse WK_n.

[0100] Steps SD6 through SD14 of FIG. 12 are the same steps as Steps SB7 through SB15 of FIG. 8. Thus, the control device 28 determines, at SD13, blood pressure values BP of the patient and displays, at SD14, the thus determined blood pressure values BP on the display device 36.

[0101] As is apparent from the foregoing description of the second embodiment, the correction-factor determining means 82 (SD4) determines, for each of the respective estimated pulse pressure values EPM_ndetermined by the estimated-pulse-pressure determining means 71 (SD2) for the respective pulse period values T_n, the correction factor K_nto correct the each estimated pulse pressure value EPM_nto the average estimated pulse pressure EPM_per; and the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 84 (SD5) multiplies, by the correction factor K_ndetermined for the each estimated pulse pressure EPM_n, the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each estimated pulse pressure EPM_n, and thereby determines the corrected amplitude AK_n′ of the one pulse WK_nthat is free of the influence of change of cardiac output during the slow changing of the cuff pressure P_C. In addition, the pulse-period determining means 68 (SD1) determines the pulse period T_nof each of the heartbeat-synchronous pulses WH_nof the ECG wave continuously detected by the ECG-signal detecting device 50; and the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72 (SD8 and SD9) determines, for each of the pulse period values T_n, the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_nto correct the estimated blood pressure EBP_n, determined based on the each pulse period value T_n, to a predetermined value. The corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 (SD12) subtracts, from the cuff pressure PRS_nat the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof one of the pulses WK_nof the cuff pulse wave that corresponds to the each pulse period T_n, the blood-pressure correction value ΔP_ndetermine for the each pulse period T_n, and thereby determines the corrected cuff pressure PRS_n′ that indicates a cuff pressure P_Cwhich would be detected, at the time of detection of the amplitude AK_nof the one pulse WK_nof the cuff pulse wave, in the state in which there would be no influence of change of blood pressure of the subject. And, the blood-pressure determining means 86 (SD13) determines the blood pressure BP of the subject based on the change of the respective corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 84 (SD5) with respect to the respective corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ determined by the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 (SD12). Thus, the present apparatus 80 can determine the blood pressure BP with high accuracy.

[0102] While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments by reference to the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention may otherwise be embodied.

[0103] For example, in the first embodiment, the average-amplitude determining means 62 determines the average amplitude AL_perof the respective amplitudes AL_nof the respective pulses WL_nof the photoelectric pulse wave detected during the slow changing of the cuff pressure P_C; and the correction-factor determining means 64 determines, by dividing the average amplitude AL_perby the amplitude AL_nof each of the pulses WL_naccording to the expression (1), the correction factor K_nto correct the amplitude AL_nof the each pulse WL_nto the average amplitude AL_per(i.e., a predetermined value). However, the correction factors K_nmay be any values that correct the respective amplitudes AL_nof the pulses WL_neach to a predetermined value. Therefore, in the expression (1), the average amplitude AL_permay be replaced with, e.g., a prescribed standard value, or an amplitude AL_nof a first pulse WL₁of the photoelectric pulse wave that is first detected by the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C.

[0104] In each of the illustrated embodiments, the cuff-pressure changing means 60 (SA3 and SA5) slowly decreases the cuff pressure P_Cdown to the prescribed second target pressure P_CM2. However, the average-amplitude determining means 62 (SB1 and SB2), the correction-factor determining means 64 (SB3), the corrected-cuff-pulse-wave-amplitude determining means 66 (SB4), the pulse-period determining means 68 (SB5), the average-pulse-period determining means 70 (SB6), the blood-pressure-correction-value determining means 72 (SB7, SB8, SB9), the corrected-cuff-pressure determining means 74 (SB12), and the blood-pressure determining means 76 (SB13) may be modified such that during the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_C, those means 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76 iteratively operate at respective times to process respective lengths of the cuff-pulse-wave signal SM₁and the photoelectric-pulse-wave signal SM₂that have been read up to each of those times. In the latter case, the slow decreasing of the cuff pressure P_Cmay be stopped upon determination of the diastolic blood pressure BP_DIA.

[0105] In each of the illustrated embodiments, both the cuff-pressure values PRS_nand the cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_nare corrected to the corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ and the cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′, respectively, based on which the blood pressure BP is determined. However, it is possible to correct either the cuff-pressure values PRS_nor the cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_nto the corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ or the corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′, because a blood pressure BP determined based on the cuff-pressure values PRS_nor the cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n, and the corrected cuff-pulse-wave amplitudes AK_n′ or the corrected cuff-pressure values PRS_n′ is freed, to some degree, of the influence of change of blood pressure of the subject during the blood-pressure measuring operation.

[0106] In each of the illustrated embodiments, the ECG-signal detecting device 50 is employed as the heartbeat-synchronous wave detecting device. However, the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 may be used as the heartbeat-synchronous wave detecting device, because the photoelectric pulse wave detected by the sensor 40 is a sort of heartbeat-synchronous wave. In the latter case, the sensor 40 functions as both the volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device and the synchronous-pulse-wave detecting device, and accordingly the automatic blood-pressure measuring apparatus 8, 80 can be produced at lower cost.

[0107] In each of the illustrated embodiments, the photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor 40 is employed as the volumetric-pulse-wave detecting device. The sensor 40 is of a transmission type that detects the change of amount of blood based on the amount of light transmitted through the portion of the patient. However, the sensor 40 may be replaced with a photoelectric-pulse-wave sensor of a reflection type that detects the change of amount of blood based on the amount of light reflected from a portion of a living subject; an impedance-pulse-wave that detects the change of amount of blood based on the change of impedance between prescribed portions of a living subject; or a volume-change detecting device that covers a portion of a living subject, such as an end portion of a finger, and detects the change of amount of blood based on the change of volume of the portion of the subject.

[0108] It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied with other changes, improvements, and modifications that may occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.