• 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.

• 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 IEEK Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.138-140
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• 2009

Hemorrhage shock occupies high rate in trauma patient's mortality and blood pressure is the variance that judges early diagnosis and the effect of remedy. Systolic blood pressure is related to pulse transit time(PTT). PTT means the time that is required to flow from the heart to peripheral artery. PTT is influenced from the length, cross section and stiffness of the blood vessels. It is hard to evaluate the correlation between systolic blood pressure and PTT because they are variable in human body. In this paper, we evaluated the correlation between the systolic blood pressure and PTT in normal and hemorrhage states using standardized rat. PTT is defined as the time differences between the R peak and the peak of pulse wave. The analyzed time differences of ECG and blood pressure are analyzed every 5minutes for 30 seconds when there is before and after bleeding. Before bleeding, systolic blood pressure and PTT are steadily preserved but when the bleeding comes started, systolic blood pressure is declined. However PTT was increased and decreased. Under the circumstance that the standardized rat is controlled by age, the length of the blood vessels, and any disease, it shows that PTT measurement using systolic blood pressure of bleeding is impossible.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2007

Palpation of the pulse has been used in Korean traditional medicine since ancient times to assess physical health. Pulse wave contour may be obtained by measuring arterial pressure or blood volume change of skin. The latter is called as Photoplethysmography(PPG) or digital volume pulse(DVP). The PPG signal is measured by a device comprising an infrared light sourece and a photodetector. Although less widely used, this technique deserves further consideration because of its simplicity and ease of use. The contour of the PPG is formed as a result of a complex interaction between the left ventricle and the systemic circulation. It usually exhibits an early systolic peak and an early diastolic peak. the first peak is formed mainly by pressure trasmitted along a direct path from the left ventricle to the finger. The second peak is formed in part by pressure transmitted along the aorta and large arteries to sites of impedance mismatch in the lower body. The contour of the PPG is sensitive to changes in arterial tone and is influenced by ageing and large artery stiffness. Measurements taken directly from the PPG or from its second derivative can be used to assess these properties. In some mathematical approaches, the extraction of periodic components using frequency analysis was tried to analysis of the PPG. But we don't understand yet what kind of factor in the cardiovascular system or human body is related with the respective specific Fourier components of PPG. This review describes the background to measurement principles, representative contour, contour analysis and frequency domain analysis of PPG, and current and future.

• 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 $7.5{\pm}1.35mmHg$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.383-391
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• 2004

In this study, we implemented the pulse transit time (PTT) system to examine usefulness of the monitoring method of distensibility and elasticity using photoplethysmography sensor in vivo. PTT is defined as the time interval between the peak of QRS complex in ECG signal and the maximum slope point of photoplethysmography. these two signals were converted to digital data by means of AID converter, then PTT was evaluated by heartbeat using PC. Results of analysis were displayed as a graph using spline interpolation method. The variance of PTT was measured repetitiously to verify efficiency of PTT system in resting state and hyperemic state. Repeated measurement of PTT was not same value but showed that coefficients of correlation were related with each other as 0.8302 (P<0.01) in resting state. And also repeated measurement of PTT showed significant correlation as 0.868 (P<0.01) in the hyperemic state. These result showed that PTT is reflect on transient pressure variance in the artery and is very useful method for the evaluation of prognosis of the hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.217-221
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether school-aged children with Kawasaki disease (KD) have an increased risk for early atherosclerosis. Methods: The study included 98 children. The children were divided into the following groups: group A (n=19), KD with coronary arterial lesions that persisted or regressed; group B (n=49), KD without coronary arterial lesions; and group C (n=30), healthy children. Anthropometric variables and the levels of biochemical markers, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, homocysteine, highsensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and brachial artery stiffness using pulse wave velocity were compared among the three groups. Results: There were no significant differences in blood pressure and body index among the three groups. Additionally, there was no sex-specific difference. Moreover, the levels of triglyceride, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A, and hs-CRP did not differ among the three groups. However, the levels of total cholesterol (P =0.018), LDL-C (P =0.0003), and apolipoprotein B (P =0.029) were significantly higher in group A than in group C. Further, the level of homocysteine and the aortic pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (P=0.0001). Conclusion: School-aged children after KD have high lipid profiles and arterial stiffness indicating an increased risk for early atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.260-266
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• 2011

Objectives: We evaluated the association between common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), brachialankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid plaque, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as indicators of macroangiopathy and diabetic retinopathy as an indicator of microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: We analyzed 605 type 2 diabetic patients registered at a public health center in Korea. Following overnight fasting, venous blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed. The CCA-IMT, levels of carotid plaque, baPWV, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the subjects were assessed. We used non-mydriatic fundus photography to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between macroangiopathy and diabetic retinopathy. CCA-IMT and baPWV were divided into tertiles: CCA-IMT, 0.39 to 0.65 mm, 0.66 to 0.78 mm, and 0.79 to 1.30 mm; baPWV, 9.9 to 15.8 m/s, 15.9 to 18.9 m/s, and 19.0 to 38.0 m/s. Results: The association between baPWV and diabetic retinopathy remained significant after adjustment, with an increasing odds ratio (OR) in the second tertile (OR, 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 4.55) and the third tertile (OR, 4.63; 95% CI, 2.33 to 9.21). No significant differences were observed in carotid plaque, PAD, and each tertile of CCA-IMT. Conclusions: BaPWV was associated with diabetic retinopathy, while CCA-IMT, carotid plaque, and PAD were not. This study suggests that the association between macroangiopathy and microangiopathy may be attributable to functional processes rather than structural processes within the vascular system.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-96
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate arterial stiffness index, physical activity, and food and nutrient intake in middle-aged adults over 40 years when the incidence of cardiovascular disease begins to increase. Methods: This study included 106 subjects (48 males and 58 females) aged between 40 and 64 years. The arterial stiffness index (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV], and ankle-brachial index [ABI]) were measured using a blood pressure pulse wave testing device. Physical activity was assessed using the Korean version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and food and nutrient intake was calculated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 54.4 years. Although the ABI of the subjects was within the normal range, they were divided into tertiles to compare physical activity and food and nutrient intake. In males, the time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly higher in T3 (600.6 min/week) than in T1 (304.4 min/week). In females, the time spent in sedentary behavior was significantly lower in T3 (294.5 min/week) than in T1 (472.1 min/week). In addition, the frequency of fish consumption was significantly higher in T3 (1.27 frequency/day) than in T1 (0.64 frequency/day) in females. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and ω-3 fatty acid intake, adjusted for energy intake, were significantly positively correlated with ABI (r = 0.200 and r = 0.218, respectively). Conclusions: High MVPA (in males), low sedentary behavior (in females), and PUFA and ω-3 fatty acid intake through fish consumption may be associated with low peripheral artery stiffness. Therefore, arteriosclerosis can be prevented through physical activity and proper dietary therapy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 2010

Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been shown to enhance endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in experimental animals; however, little is known about its pharmacological effects on vascular stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was carried out to determine whether KRG has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness, cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP), and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) activity. Twenty patients (mean age, 62.5 years) with stable angina pectoris were given KRG (2.7 g/day) and a placebo alternatively for 10 weeks. Blood biochemical analysis and pulse wave velocity (PWV) recording were performed on day 0 and after the completion of each treatment. ROCK activity was assessed based on the level of phospho-$Thr^{853}$ in the myosin-binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase, determined by Western blot analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. KRG significantly decreased the systolic BP, brachial ankle PWV, and heart femoral PWV in the patients (all p<0.05), but did not significantly alter the serum lipid profiles, including triglycerides and total, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The ROCK activity tended to decrease (p=0.068) following KRG treatment. The placebo did not significantly alter any of the variables. In conclusion, KRG decreased systolic BP and arterial stiffness, probably via the inhibition of ROCK activity, in patients with CAD, but had a neutral effect on serum lipid profiles. Our data suggest that KRG has a therapeutic effect on CAD.