Microcontroller-Based Device for Monitoring Blood Pressure in the Field

摘要

Monitoring of the vital signs of casualties in the field is an ongoing concern ofthe Canadian Forces Medical System. A vital signs monitor has been developed, which would measure heart rate and body temperature continuously and concurrently. In order to enhance the capabilities of the device, it was decided to investigate the feasibility of adding blood pressure monitoring. Using the oscillographic method of measuring cuff pressures, and the Erlanger procedure for determining systolic and diastolic pressures, several algorithms were tested for determining blood pressure. A method of digitally sampling pressure pulses, using a two dimensional filter for determining pulse validity, and establishing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, is described.