• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2017

In this paper, a novel measurement method of radial artery pulse waveform using robotic applanation tonometry (RAT) was present to reduce the errors by the pressing direction of the vessel. The RAT consisted of an array of pressure sensors and 2-axis tilt sensor, which was attached to the universal joint with a linear spring and five-DOF robotic manipulator with a one-axis force sensor. Using the RAT mechanism, the pulse sensor could be manipulated to perpendicularly pressurize the radial artery. A pilot experimental result showed that the proposed mechanism could find the optimal pressurization angles of the pulse sensor within ${\pm}3^{\circ}$standard deviations. Coefficient values of variation of maximum pulse peaks extracted from the pulse waveforms were 4.692, 6.994, and 11.039 % for three channels with the highest magnitudes. It is expected that the proposed method can be helpful to develop more precise tonometry system measuring the pulse waveform on the radial artery.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.44-53
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• 2023

Objectives : This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between multiple factors of traditional Korean Medicine diagnosis and consider the further probabilities of treating people with physical and mental problems not defined as diseases, which is called 'Mibyeong' in traditional Korean Medicine. Methods : 40 healthy participants were included in the observational clinical trial. The participants were asked to complete health questionnaires (e.g. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Stress Response Inventory) and they went through a traditional diagnosis process, including four stages of diagnosis (looking, listening/smelling, inquiring, and pulse taking), by a Korean Medicine doctor. Both the Korean Medicine doctor and an artery tonometry device performed the pulse diagnosis. Results : Although all participants were healthy people with no history of disease, more than half of participants had a problem related with severe level of fatigue (n=19), sleep disturbance (n=26) and stress (n=27) status according to the related questionnaires. Participants diagnosed with phlegm syndrome by the Korean Medicine doctor showed significantly greater score in phlegm pattern questionnaires than participants who were not. However, there was little agreement between the doctor's pulse diagnosis and radial artery tonometry results. Conclusions : We conducted a pulse diagnosis and measured health-related information along with the traditional Korean Medicine diagnose procedure, including four stages of diagnosis, and we found a linkage between diagnosis of phlegm and the phlegm pattern questionnaire score. The results suggest that a number of healthy participants, with no disease diagnosed, have Mibyoung symptoms which need further clinical management. Thus, we suggest that Mibyoung management programs based on qualified diagnosis tools and traditional Korean medicine diagnosis procedures be developed, and that future research using various diagnostic tools be carried out on a large population.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.243-248
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• 2001

A radial artery pulse wave is well known as a good mans to diagnose human body condition in th field of Chinese medical science. Information about constitution as well as organs can be obtained by detecting the artery pulse wave. Recently, the information about the human body constitution may be utilized in accelerating the recovery process of the patient on the basis of comprehensive diagnosis. A radial artery pulse wave is considered as one of promising means in examining the human body constitution. Since the examination has been conducted by the feeling of finger, the diagnosis may occasionally have uncertainty or fatal error. In this paper, a new measuring system is suggested and developed to examine the pattern of a pulse wave correctly. The system is composed of four pressure vessels, pressure sensors and air supplying pumps. One of them is utilized for appropriately pressing the radial artery, three of them for detecting pressure change in several mmHg level. The detected data is shown and discussed.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.259-263
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• 2018

A radial artery pulse wave is measured while pressing an artery with constant force. However, pulse waveform measurements vary depending on pressing force and direction. Accurate pulse waveform measurements are important for analysis. Thus, it is necessary to define the measurement range of the permissible force and direction from which a correct pulse waveform is derived. In this study, pulse waves were generated by a pulse wave generator for accurate control. The pulse waves generated for different angles and pressing forces were analyzed. The augmentation index (AIx), which is the most commonly used index for evaluating vascular stiffness, was analyzed. The AIx was measured within ${\pm}6^{\circ}$ of the vessel direction and within ${\pm}8^{\circ}$ perpendicular to the vessel direction with a force that was 25% or more of the pressing force at which the maximum pressure wave was generated. We identified the applicable pressing force and angle range by analyzing the effect of pressing angle on the pulse wave. The AIx analysis performed using the pulse wave measurement device is reliable and reproducible.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

A pulse measurement by tonometry provides useful information for diagnosis, including not only blood pressure and heart rate but also parameters for estimating a condition of the cardiovascular system. Currently, various pulse measurement devices based on the tonometry have been developed. A reliability of these devices is determined by a positioning technic between the sensor and the blood vessel and a controlling technique of the pressurization level. An angle of the sensor for the pulse measurement seems to be highly related with a measured signal, however, the objective studies for this issue have been not published. In this paper, the variation of the pulse signals by tonometry direction was experimentally assessed according to the angle of the sensor. In order for guaranteeing the repeatability of the experiment, we used a pulse generator device, which can generate human pulse signal by using silicon tube and fluid pump, and developed a structure for precise adjustment of the angle and the pressurization level of the sensor. The angle of the sensor was acquired by an inclinometer, which was attached at the opposite side of the sensor. As results, a coefficient of variation (CV) of a maximum amplitude (MA) of the pulse wave was largely increased over the angle range of $-9{\sim}9^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the changes of the pulse shape showed different aspects according to the sign of the angle tilted along the blood vessel. It is expected that the results of this study can be helpful for developing more precise pulse measurement devices based on the tonometry and applying in clinic.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.1978.1_1979.1
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• 2009

In this paper, we have proposed and demonstrated a tonometry sensor array for measuring arterial pulse pressure. A sensor module consists of 7 piezoresistive pressure sensor array. Wire-bonded connection was provided between silicon chip and lead frame. PDMS(poly-dimethylsiloxane) was coated on the sensor array to protect fragile sensor while faithfully transmitting the pressure of radial artery to the sensor. Tonometric pulse pressure can be measured by this packaged sensor array that provides the pressure value versus the output voltage.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.68-79
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• 2008

Aortic AIx(augmentation index) has been used to measure aortic stiffness quantitatively and even to evaluate ventricular load. However, in order to calculate aortic AIx catheters should be inserted to the subjects' artery, which hampers its clinical usage. To overcome such limitation, aortic AIx has been indirectly calculated by estimating aortic pressure wave from the peripheral arterial pulse by applying transfer functions. In this study, central aortic pressure waves using Millar catheter and radial artery pulse waves using tonometry pressure sensor were measured to establish transfer functions for an estimation of central aortic pressure waves from radial artery pulse waves. Also, an algorithm which detects augmentation point for the calculation of AIx were developed. Developed algorithm for the detection of augmentation point gradually increases the differential order to detect inflection point rather than detects the distinctive point that appears after a specific time. Transfer functions were established using 10th order ARX model and were verified for the stability of the transfer function through residual analysis. Evaluation of an algorithm for the detection of augmentation point were performed by comparing the augmentation points obtained from developed algorithm with the known augmentation points synthesized in various conditions. In addition, developed algorithm for the AIx is proved to provide more accurate results than the ones developed by previous studies. The significance of the study was in two folds. Firstly, the results could provide the basis for the measurement of aortic stiffness using easily-measurable radial artery pulse waves, and secondly, extension of the study may enable the early diagnosis of various vascular diseases.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2009

In this study, pulse waves were measured at radial artery using non-invasive tonometric pulse pressure measurement system, SphygmoCor(AtCor, Australia), according to subject's posture. Then it was analysed whether the pulse wave parameters, which contain heart activities, change among three different postures (upright stand, sit, and supine). And it was also verified that the pulse wave parameters change among blood pressure level groups(hypotensive, normotensive, and hypertensive). As a results, posture effects were verified in time information of pulse wave rather than amplitude. But some parameters calculated by ratio of two amplitude, such as augmented index(AI) and ratio of central aortic pulse and radial artery pulse, showed significant difference according to postures. In post hoc test, time to the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ pulse peak(P_$T_1$, and P_$T_2$), ED(ejection duration), and HR(heart rate) showed significant difference among posture groups with each other. In comparison of blood pressure groups, it was verified that the parameters related to amplitude of pulse wave showed significant difference rather than time information.