Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute


Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-70/21

Title and Subtitle: A device and method for rapid indirect measurement of human systolic and diastolic blood pressures

Report Date: December 1970

Authors: Lategola MT, Harrison HF

Abstract: An indirect blood pressure measuring device and method were evolved for human use. This system is capable of providing 30 measurements each of systolic and diastolic pressures per minute. The system utilizes two brachial blood pressure cuffs (one on each arm) and fully automatic cycling for each pressure measurement. The main advantages of this system are:
  1. minimum circulatory impedance during each measurement;
  2. the capability of measuring rapid blood pressure transients; and
  3. the complete avoidance of all the inherent risks of intra-arterial catheterization.

Key Words: Physiology, Blood pressure--measurement, Monitors

No. of Pages: 28

Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012