• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.83-88
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• 2006

A new method of measuring pulse arrival time (PAT), which is usually used for the estimation of systolic blood pressure, in an unconstrained manner using a chair, is proposed. The capacitive-coupled ECG (CC-ECG) measurement system and the air cushion with balancing tubes system were used for unconstrained PAT measurement. Firstly, the correlation between the standard PAT (S-PAT) from the photoplethysmography (PPG) and the PAT measured in an unconstrained manner (U-PAT) was evaluated. It was observed that U-PAT, which is the time delay from the R-peak of ECG to the steepest decent point of air cushion pressure wave, is significantly correlated with the S-PAT. Secondly, systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured by the radial tonometer is compared to the U-PAT. The ten-beat averaged U-PAT removed respiration effects and demonstrated a high intra-subject correlation with SBP in all participants. Finally, the tonometry SBP was estimated from these U-PAT values for one participant intermittently during half a day.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 2020

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess changes in blood glucose level, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in elderly women aged over 65 years with hypertension and either normal glycemic control, impaired fasting glucose tolerance, or diabetes mellitus. We also wished to investigate the relationship between stages of diabetes and physical fitness. [Methods] A total of 24 elderly women with hypertension were assigned to a control group (CON; n=7), impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n=9), and diabetes mellitus group (DM; n=8). In each group, blood glucose level, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV), and blood pressure were measured at baseline as well as 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. Physical fitness factors such as hand grip strength, balance test, 4 m gait speed test, chair stand test, short physical performance battery, and 6-minute walking test were subsequently assessed. [Results] In all three groups, blood glucose levels were significantly increased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT. In the DM group, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before and after a 75 g OGTT than in the CON group. In the CON group, PWV was significantly increased at 60 minutes after a 75 g OGTT; however, there were no changes in other groups after glucose ingestion. In the CON group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased at 60 and 120 minutes after a 75 g OGTT compared to baseline. However, there was no change in blood pressure after ingestion in the DM group. The IFG group had greater grip strength than the CON group; however, there were no differences in other variables between the groups. [Conclusion] After a 75 g OGTT, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes maintain higher blood glucose levels compared to those with hypertension alone. Unlike elderly women with hypertension alone, those with hypertension and diabetes did not show changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure after a 75 g OGTT. Therefore, elderly women with hypertension and diabetes may not be able to control their blood vessels following a 75 g OGTT due to impaired vascular endothelial function. Moreover, there was no association between diabetes stage and physical fitness in elderly women with hypertension.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether a pulse analyzer was useful to characterize the variables of pulse wave of hypertension (HT), compared with those of normal blood pressure group (NP). Methods The subjects were 22,646 who worked at car manufacturing factory. The pulse wave variables and pulse types measured in Guan by DMP 1000. Results In the main and secondary pulse type, there were significant differences between HT and NP. Whereas, in the field of pulse wave variables, no specific differences were between HT and NP. Conclusion Although pulse wave variables were not statistically significant, pulse analyzer might have reliable diagnostic sensitivity between hypertension and non-hypertension population.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-40
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• 2014

This paper examines the blood chamber of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) under static loading conditions and standard operating temperatures. The LVAD's walls are made of a temperature-sensitive polymer (ChronoFlex C 55D) and are covered with a titanium nitride (TiN) nano-coating (deposited by laser ablation) to improve their haemocompatibility. A loss of cohesion may be observed near the coating-substrate boundary. Therefore, a micro-scale stress-strain analysis of the multilayered blood chamber was conducted with FE (finite element) code. The multi-scale model included a macro-model of the LVAD's blood chamber and a micro-model of the TiN coating. The theories of non-linear elasticity and elasto-plasticity were applied. The formulated problems were solved with a finite element method. The micro-scale problem was solved for a representative volume element (RVE). This micro-model accounted for the residual stress, a material model of the TiN coating, the stress results under loading pressures, the thickness of the TiN coating and the wave parameters of the TiN surface. The numerical results (displacements and strains) were experimentally validated using digital image correlation (DIC) during static blood pressure deformations. The maximum strain and stress were determined at static pressure steps in a macro-scale FE simulation. The strain and stress were also computed at the same loading conditions in a micro-scale FE simulation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2015

This study evaluated the effects of alfaxalone (3 mg/kg, intravenously) on echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs using echocardiography. Six adult Beagle dogs were used for this study. Left ventricular dimensions with systolic indexes, trans-blood flow at all cardiac valvular annulus and trans-mitral tissue Doppler values were measured from routine transthoracic echocardiography. Although the changes were not statistically significant, heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, peak velocities of tricuspid A-wave and transpulmonic flow were increased after alfaxalone induction, while systolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, peak velocities of mitral E-wave, mitral A wave, tricuspid E-wave, transaortic flow and medial e'-, a'- and s'-peaks decreased after alfaxalone induction. No dogs showed hypoxemia during sedation, regardless of intubation and oxygen supply. Although alfaxalone showed mild cardiovascular depression, this protocol could be a good alternative sedative protocol for echocardiographic examination in healthy dogs because the cardiovascular depression was statistically and clinically insignificant. However, further studies in dogs with heart diseases should be conducted to confirm these findings after alfaxalone induction.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.104-107
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• 2011

We measured signals at the "Guan" region of a radially arterial pulse using the prototype of a clamping pulsimeter equipped with a Hall effect device, which is passed signals through the voltage detecting hard ware system. The important four different measuring times of the period, systolic, reflective, and notch peaks for a temporally pulse signal are obtained and compared each other from the analysis for an arbitrary pulse wave of one position of small size permanent magnet. It is possible to measure the reproducible pulse rate and blood pressure by using the cuffless clip type pulsimeter without an unpleasant oppressive feeling due to the use of pressurization.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.125-126
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• 1998

Pulse conduction velocity is determined by areterial compliance, which is changed by lateral pressure of arterial wall. Hydrostatic pressure of the limb vessel is changed by body position, especially in elevated arm. The arterial pulse in the finger causes the blood volume to change, changing the optical density of the blood. Photoplethysmograph of index finger was obtained by LED and phototransistor. Pulse transmission time(PTT) was measured by the interval between the peak of ECG R wave and the peak of the finger plethysmogram. PTT was increased by upward position of arm, and decreased by downward position of the arm compared to horizontal position. This result suggests that relationship between finger plethysmography and postural change could be applied to evaluate clinical cardiovascular status.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2010

Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is a parameter of the cardiovascular system that is reflected in changes in pulse interval (PD and systolic blood pressure (SBP). BRS contains information about how the autonomic nervous system regulates hemodynamic homeostasis. Normally the beat-to-beat SBP measurement and the pulse interval measured from the electrocardiogram (ECG) are required to estimate the BRS. We investigated the possibility of measuring BRS in the absence of a beat-to-beat SBP measurement device. Pulse arrival time (PAT), defined as the time between the R-peak of the ECG and a single characteristic point on the pulse wave recorded from any arterial location was measured by photoplethysmography. By comparing the BRS obtained from conventional measurements with our method during controlled breathing, we confirmed again that PAT and SBP are closely correlated, with a correlation coefficient of -0.82 to -0.95. The coherence between SBP and PI at a respiration frequency of 0.07-0.12 Hz was similar to the coherence between PAT and PI. Although the ranges and units of measurement are different (ms/mmHg vs. ms/ms) for BRS measured conventionally and by our method, the correlation is very strong. Following further investigation under various conditions, BRS can be reliably estimated without the inconvenient and expensive beat-to-beat SBP measurement.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2017

Noninvasive, cuffless, and continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring is essential to prevent and control hypertension. A well-known existing method for this measurement is pulse transit time (PTT), which has been investigated by many researchers as a promising approach. However, the fundamental principle of the PTT method is based on the time interval taken by a pulse wave to propagate between the proximal and distal arterial sites. Consequently, this method needs an independent system with two devices placed at two different sites, which is a problem. Even though some studies attempted to synchronize the system, it is bulky and inconvenient by contemporary standards. To find a more sensitive method to be used in a BP measurement device, this study used radial electrical bioimpedance (REB) as a potential indicator for BP determination. Only one impedance plethysmography channel at the wrist is performed for demonstrating a ubiquitous BP wearable device. The experiment was evaluated on eight healthy subjects with the ambulatory BP monitor on the upper arm as a reference. The results demonstrated the potential of the proposed method by the correlation of estimated systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP against the reference at $0.84{\pm}0.05$ and $0.83{\pm}0.05$, respectively. REB also tracked the DBP well with a root-mean-squared-error of $7.5{\pm}1.35mmHg$.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2012

Objectives: Existing cardiovascular simulators are used to evaluate artificial organs such as artificial hearts, prosthetic valves, and artificial blood vessels, and pulses are typically triggered using artificial hearts. However, the forms of pulse waves vary according to the location of arteries, and for precise assessment of artificial blood vessels, the development of simulators that generate diverse pressure pulse waves is necessary. This study developed a novel cardiovascular simulator that generates different forms of pulse waves. Methods: This simulator consists of a stepping motor, a slider-crank mechanism that transforms the rotation movement of a motor into the straight-line motion of a piston, a piston that generates pulsatile flows, a water tank that supplies fluids, an elastic tube made of silicon, and a device that adjusts the terminal resistance of fluids. Results & Conclusion: This study examined motor rotation and its operation under conditions similar to the physiological conditions of the heart. The simulator developed in this study produced diverse forms of waves, and the generated pressure waves well satisfied physiological conditions.