FR3070251A1 - ARTERIAL PRESSURE AMBULATORY MEASURING APPARATUS WITH NOISE REDUCER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ambulatory device for measuring arterial pressure. The apparatus (1) comprises a cuff pouch (3) connected by a hose or tube assembly (2) to a pump (14) for inflating the cuff pouch (3), and is characterized in that it comprises least one inflation-reducing device (12). The invention reduces noise when inflating the cuff.

Description

The invention relates to an ambulatory blood pressure measurement device with noise reduction.

This noise reducer is in particular active during the inflation phases of a cuff used for taking measurements.

STATE OF THE ART

Referring to Figure 1, there is known an apparatus (1) for ambulatory blood pressure measurement provided with a housing (5) and an air nozzle (6).

The apparatus comprises a bladder assembly (3) forming an armband pouch (4) connected by a hose or tube assembly (2) to an air inflation pump of the armband pouch (4).

This device, widely used on the market, makes it possible to measure blood pressure during the inflation and deflation phase of the cuff wrapped around the arm. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement devices emit a noise during the inflation phase due to the air expelled by the pump. This noise propagates in the pipe and is perceptible at the level of the cuff placed around the arm.

To carry out the measurement of the arterial pressure, it is usually used by the practitioner the method known as oscillometric which rests on the principle that an overpressure cuff wrapped around the arm makes it possible to capture the oscillations of arterial pressure transmitted from the membrane of the artery to the cuff. When the pressure exerted by the cuff is higher than the systolic blood pressure, the artery collapses and therefore no oscillation is captured. As the pressure in the cuff decreases and goes below the systolic pressure, the pressure wave begins to pass with each heart beat, the artery moves away to let the blood pass. The gradual decrease in the pressure in the cuff increases the amplitude of the oscillations captured until reaching a maximum. The latter corresponds to average blood pressure. From this value, the oscillations decrease in parallel with the decrease in pressure in the cuff.

Nighttime blood pressure measurements are of great clinical importance as they reflect resting blood pressure. Unfortunately, the measurement requires inflation of the cuff which can disturb sleep via the cuff which presses the patient's arm and also through the noise of the pump motor.

GOALS OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the invention is to solve the technical problem of reducing the noise caused by the device pump during the inflation phase of the cuff, which can cause discomfort for the user, or even awakening when it is of measurements made during the patient's sleep.

The main object of the invention is also to solve the technical problem of reducing the noise caused by the pump of the device during the inflation phase of the cuff, which is of a simple, efficient and reproducible design, easy to manufacture to scale. industrial and medical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an ambulatory blood pressure measuring device comprising a cuff-shaped bag connected by a hose or tube assembly to an inflation pump of the cuff-bag, characterized in that it comprises at least one device for reducing inflation noise. .

According to an alternative embodiment, the noise reduction device comprises a venturi. According to a particular embodiment, the noise reduction device comprises an air passage channel having an enlarged part downstream of the direction of passage of the air which is part in the inflation phase. This enlarged part, according to a particular embodiment, is formed by a conical part, the top, located upstream, receives the air flow and the enlarged base, located downstream, receives the outgoing air flow.

Thus, the noise reduction has been designed so as to create a difference in diameter between the inlet and the outlet of the air passage, which causes a reduction in noise.

According to a particular embodiment, the noise reduction device is placed inside the cuff or bladder pocket at the outlet of the tube.

According to another particular embodiment, the noise reduction device is placed on the hose assembly connecting the cuff pocket to the inflation pump, either at one end or at an intermediate position of the hose, the latter having been cut to allow this insertion of the reducing device.

According to yet another particular embodiment, the noise reduction device is placed inside the housing in which the inflation pump is located, for example between the air hose connecting to the pump and the air nozzle of connection to the hose assembly.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear in the light of the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, which represent a currently preferred embodiment of the invention given simply by way of illustration and which in no way limits the scope of the invention. The drawings form an integral part of the invention and thus supplement the description.

In the drawings:

- Figure 1 shows a general view of a prior measuring device, composed of several assemblies including the measuring device (1) comprising a housing (5) containing the measuring devices and the inflation pump, a hose assembly ( 2) connecting the measurement unit (5) to a bladder-cuff assembly (3), intended to be wound around the arm for measuring the blood pressure, containing a bladder inflation bag (4);

FIG. 2 represents an apparatus according to the invention which modifies, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the apparatus known by a particular housing (5), shown in enlarged view and open with the air nozzle (6), the pump (14), for example an electric inflation pump, a solenoid valve (18), a printed circuit (16), a pressure sensor (17), and a noise reduction device (12) according to the invention arranged here at the inside the housing (5) between a connection air hose (15) connected to the pump (14) and the outlet air nozzle (6) connected to the hose assembly (2) connected to the bladder-cuff assembly ( 3);

- Figure 3 shows an enlarged axial cross-sectional view of the noise reduction device (12) according to the invention of Figure 2, here comprising a venturi in the form of a conical channel (110) with a widening diameter from the air inlet to the air outlet during the inflation phase;

- Figure 4 shows a general view of the hose assembly (2) composed of the hose (8) with, at its two ends, a coupler (7) and a female connector (9) for the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged view similar to Figure 2, of the housing (5) open with the air nozzle (6), the pump (14) for inflation, for example electric, a solenoid valve (18), a printed circuit ( 16), a pressure sensor (17), and, according to a second embodiment of the invention, without a noise reduction device (12) according to the invention disposed inside the housing (5) between a pipe connection air (15) connected to the pump (14) and the outlet air nozzle (6) but as shown in FIG. 6, the noise reducer (12) is connected to the hose assembly (2) connected to the bladder-cuff assembly (3);

- Figure 6 shows a general view of the hose assembly (2), consisting of the hose cut here in two parts (8a) and (8b), according to this second embodiment of Figure 5, to interpose a noise reducer (12) according to the invention which thus connects the two pipe parts (8a) and (8b) with the coupler (7) and the female connector (9);

- Figure 7 shows another general view of the hose assembly (2), consisting of the hose (8), which, according to a third embodiment, interposes a noise reducer (12) or muffler according to the invention, between one end of the pipe (8) and the coupler (7);

- Figure 8 shows another general view of the hose assembly (2), consisting of the hose (8), which, according to a fourth embodiment, interposes a noise reducer (12) or muffler according to the invention between a other end of the pipe (8) and the female connector (9); and

- Figure 9 shows a general view of the bladder assembly, consisting of a bladder (13), a tube (11), a male connector (10) and, according to a fifth embodiment of the The invention is a noise reduction or silent device (12) arranged inside the bladder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, which illustrates a measuring device (1) typical of the state of the prior art, the prior measuring device (1) comprises a housing (5) containing the measuring devices and the pump. inflation, a hose assembly (2) connecting the measurement unit (5) to a bladder-cuff assembly (3) intended to be usually wrapped around the arm for measuring blood pressure, containing an inflatable bladder pouch (4).

The measuring device (1) is an ambulatory automatic blood pressure measuring device. It can be used in the patient's environment (hospital, medical office or home) for a period of generally 24 hours. The apparatus automatically inflates a cuff placed on the patient's arm by means of an electric pump shown in FIG. 2. The apparatus controls the deflation of the cuff by means of a solenoid valve (18) shown in the figure 2. During progressive deflation of the cuff, the pulsatile pressure variations (oscillations) are transmitted from the brachial artery to the cuff and then to the pressure sensor (17) located in the housing (5) via the connection air hose ( 15) also located in the housing and visible in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an apparatus according to the invention which modifies, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the known apparatus. The same reference numbers are used for identical parts or having the same function. The housing (5) is shown in enlarged and open view with the air nozzle (6), a pump (14) for inflation, for example electric, a solenoid valve (18), a printed circuit (16), a pressure sensor ( 17).

In this first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a noise reduction device (12) according to the invention arranged inside the housing (5) between an air connection pipe (15) connected to the pump ( 14) and the outlet air nozzle (6) connected to the hose assembly (2) connected to the bladder-cuff assembly (3).

As indicated, FIG. 3 represents an enlarged axial cross-section view of the noise reduction device (12) according to the invention of FIG. 2, which here comprises a venturi in the form of a conical channel (110) with a diameter going widening from the air inlet to the air outlet in the inflation phase.

The noise reduction device (12) comprises a striated part (100) for holding and sealing with the fitting (15) and the fitting (6), a chamfered part (101) to facilitate its insertion into the tube (11) , a flat part (102) to create a stop with the fitting (15) or the fitting (6) or the tube (8), a conical part (103) to allow an enlargement of the air passage diameter of Dl to D3 as clearly visible in Figure 3.

Also, Figure 4 shows a general view of the hose assembly (2), consisting of the hose (8) with, at its two ends, a coupler (7) and a female connector (9) for the embodiment of the figures 2 and 3.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 represents an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2, of the housing (5) open with the air nozzle (6), the inflation pump (14), for example electric, a solenoid valve (18), a circuit printed (16), a pressure sensor (17), and, according to a second embodiment of the invention, without a noise reduction device (12) according to the invention disposed inside the housing (5) between a connection air hose (15) connected to the pump (14) and the outlet air nozzle (6) connected to the hose assembly (2) connected to the bladder-cuff assembly (3).

FIG. 6 represents a general view of the hose assembly (2), composed of the hose cut here in two parts (8a) and (8b), according to this second embodiment of FIG. 5, for interposing a noise reducer ( 12) according to the invention which thus connects the two pipe parts (8a) and (8b) with the coupler (7) and the female connector (9).

FIG. 7 represents another general view of the hose assembly (2), composed of the hose (8), which, according to a third embodiment, interposes a noise reducer (12) or muffler according to the invention, between a end of the hose (8) and the coupler (7).

FIG. 8 represents another general view of the pipe assembly (2), composed of the pipe (8), which, according to a fourth embodiment, interposes a noise reducer (12) or silencer according to the invention between another end of the pipe (8) and the female connector (9); and finally, FIG. 9 represents a general view of the cuff bladder assembly (3), composed of a bladder (4), a tube (11), a male connector (10) and, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, a noise reducing or silent device (12) arranged inside the bladder (4).

This last embodiment makes it possible to reduce the noise at the level of the bladder (4) of the cuff.

Those skilled in the art understand that the various embodiments can be combined by the presence of several noise reduction devices (12), thereby amplifying the noise reduction.

Those skilled in the art also understand that:

- the housing (5) protects and organizes the various components of the device (1), including the pump (14), the solenoid valve (18), the air nozzle (6), the air hose connection (15), the printed circuit (16), the pressure sensor (17) and here the noise reduction device (12) according to the invention;

- The pump (14) allows air to be sent into the bladder (13) of the cuff via the pipe (2) or (8);

- the solenoid valve (18) ensures the deflation of the cuff;

- the connection air pipe (15) makes it possible to connect the pump (14), the solenoid valve (18), the pressure sensor (17) and the air nozzle (6) between them by an air duct;

- the air nozzle (6) makes it possible to connect the measuring device (1) to the cuff via the coupler (7);

- the pressure sensor (17) makes it possible to transmit the pressure values to the printed circuit (16);

- the printed circuit (16), well known to those skilled in the art, makes it possible to recover the pressure values from the pressure sensor (17);

- the cuff pocket (3) accommodates the bladder (4) and keeps the cuff wrapped around the patient's arm;

- the bladder (4) is a plastic pocket for storing the air sent by the pump (14);

- the tube (11) of the embodiment of Figure 9 allows air to pass through the bladder (4)

- the male connector (10) makes it possible to connect the bladder assembly part (3) with the hose assembly part (2) via the female connector (9);

- the female connector (9) makes it possible to connect the hose assembly part (2) with the bladder assembly part (3) via the male connector (10);

- the coupler (7) makes it possible to connect the cuff to the measuring device (1) via the air nozzle (6); and

- the pipe (8) allows air to be conveyed from the measuring device (1) to the bladder (13).

Conclusion

The noise reduction system according to the invention makes it possible to considerably reduce the noise nuisance due to the pump of the device.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus (1) for ambulatory blood pressure measurement comprising a cuff-forming bag (4) connected by a tube or tube assembly (2) to a pump (14) for inflating the cuff-bag (4), characterized in that 'It comprises at least one inflation noise reduction device (12). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (12) noise reduction comprises a venturi. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the noise reduction device (12) comprises an air passage channel (110) having a widened part (110b) downstream of the direction of passage of the air. air in the inflation phase. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the enlarged part (110b) is formed by a conical part, the top, located upstream, receives the air flow and the enlarged base, located downstream, receives the flow outgoing air. 5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (12) noise reduction is placed inside the cuff sleeve (4) or bladder at the outlet of the tube (2) . 6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the noise reduction device (12) is put in place on the hose assembly (2) connecting the cuff pocket to the inflation pump, ie at a end, or at an intermediate position of the pipe, the latter having been cut to allow this insertion of the reducing device. 7. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the noise reduction device (12) is placed inside the housing (5) in which the inflation pump is located, for example between the air connection pipe (15) to the pump and the air connection piece (6) for connection to the pipe assembly.