Difference between Blood Pressure Measurement during Cuff Inflation and Deflation in the Oscillometric method

Abstract

The majority of automatic blood pressure (BP) measurement devices use the oscillometric method made during cuff inflation. However, there is currently little information available concerning the measurements during cuff inflation. This study aimed to provide this information. To achieve this goal, an oscillometic blood pressure device was developed with the ability to drive out the cuff pressure signal and the oscillometric waveforms. The both signals were recorded and processed simultaneously by a specific algorithm to get blood pressure measurements during cuff inflation and deflation. From 9 normotensive cases, the relationship between diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements during cuff inflation and deflation was compared. The results found confirm a positive linear regression found with a very strong correlation coefficient (R² = 0.97) in the case of MBP. Also, a strong one (R² = 0.81) is found in the case of DBP. However, a moderate R² is found in the case of SBP (R² = 0.60). These results confirm the feasibility of blood pressure measurement during cuff inflation particularly in the estimation of MBP and DBP, which can considerably reduce the duration of measurement from 1 or 2 minute to a few seconds.