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Characterization of the oscillometric method for measuring indirect blood pressure

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Abstract

In this study, human subjects and dogs were used to determine the ability of the oscillometric method to indicate systolic and diastolic pressure. In the human studies, the auscultatory method was used as the reference. In the animal studies, directly recorded blood pressure was used as the reference. The ability of the sudden increase in cuff pressure oscillations during cuff deflation to indicate systolic pressure was examined and found to overestimate systolic pressure slightly in man, but more in animals. Systolic pressure was encountered when the cuff pressure oscillations were about one half of their maximum amplitude. However, in both man and animals the ratio was not constant; although the range was less in man than in animals. Diastolic pressure was encountered when cuff-pressure oscillation amplitude was about 0.8 of the maximal amplutide. This ratio for diastolic pressure was not constant over a range of diastolic pressure. The range of variability was less for man than for the dog.

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Supported by Grant #HL8947-03; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insitute, Bethesda, Maryland. C.F. Babbs was supported by Career Development Award HL-00587; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.

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Geddes, L.A., Voelz, M., Combs, C. et al. Characterization of the oscillometric method for measuring indirect blood pressure. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 10, 271–280 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367308

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