Model guided improvements in the measurement of continuous non invasive blood pressure

Abstract

Non invasive blood pressure measurement (NIBP) is one of the most discussed topics in cardiovascular medicine. Currently, continuous measurement of blood pressure is possible by invasive methods which makes the measurement impractical for the medical doctors and uncomfortable for the patients or it is possible to use special devices which are able to measure blood pressure non invasive continuously but there are still some problems with long time monitoring and comfort for the patient. Each heart ejection gives the blood a pressure force and it creates a pulse wave which travels from the heart to peripheral blood vessels (blood vessel in fingers, toes,...). This pulse wave travels during arterial tree and it depends on arterial properties as elasticity, stiffness or thickness of the artery wall. It will be very useful to describe the relationship between blood pressure, pulse wave propagation in real or very similar conditions as are in real cardiovascular system. It would bring a better knowledge about the behaviour of cardiovascular system and improve approaches to continuous non invasive blood pressure measurement.