A Novel Automatic Method to Determine Blood Pressure Based on Thresholds of Audibility
G. Saggio *
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
M. Tiberti
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
A. Leggieri
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
G. Amicucci
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
M. Maola
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
M. Mazzotta
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
F. Mosciano
Deptment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
We present a novel system which intends to avoid a current limit presented by the commonly adopted method to measure the diastolic and systolic blood pressure. In particular, the system allows acquiring the measurements without bothering the patient, as is with the traditional inflatable cuff necessary to restrict blood flow. In such a way, it is possible to realize a holter system that is free from the inconvenience to wake up the patient during nighttime. With an ensemble of one simple pressure sensor, one audio-frequency microphone (adopted as recommended in literature references) and a low-cost ad-hoc designed electronic circuitry, we derived data from experiments involving 20 patient records, realized in two different days. Data allowed recognizing a Gaussian relationship between pressure and audio signals. This relationship enables taking advantage from the Korotkoff sound to determine the diastolic and systolic blood pressure values.
Keywords: Blood pressure measurement, Korotkoff sounds, threshold of audibility