Pulse Wave Velocity as a Function of Cuff Pressure - Extra Information About the Cardiovascular System

High blood pressure (BP) is one of the biggest global health risks as it often precedes heart disease, stroke, or kidney failure. Non-invasive methods determine only the momentary value of systolic- and diastolic BP. Knowing arterial rigidity would provide cardiologists with invaluable extra information. A Home Health Monitoring Device, HHMD, was developed at the Dept. Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics. HHMD inflates and deflates the cuff slowly (6 mmHg/s) and records also ECG and photoplethysmographic signal (PPG) at both index fingertips. Among other parameters the pulse wave transit time, PWTT is calculated. Occlusion with the cuff causes a temporary alteration in the dynamic parameters of the brachial artery. The alteration can be characterized by the change of the PWTT. 170 were selected and analyzed from more than 1500 recordings taken from patients who underwent open-chest cardiac surgery and also from healthy control persons. The results confirm that the PWTT-CP function provides extra information about the state of the brachial artery. Parameters are suggested to express this information.