METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ESTIMATING THE TRANSIT TIME OF THE ARTERIAL PULSE FROM MEASUREMENTS OBTAINED IN DISTAL ZONES OF THE EXTREMITIES

摘要

The invention relates to a method and device for estimating the arterial pulse transit time (PTT) in different arterial sections from measurements carried out using sensors disposed only in distal zones of the two upper extremities or the two lower extremities. Firstly, the arrival of the pulse wave at a zone of the extremities next to the torso is detected in the impedance plethysmograph (IPG) measured between the two upper extremities or between the two lower extremities, which reflects changes in zones closest to the zone where the measuring electrodes are disposed. Secondly, another time reference is obtained from a pulse signal measured in a distal zone using traditional methods. When the first pulse signal is the IPG between the two upper extremities, the second pulse signal can be the IPG between the two lower extremities. The PTT is estimated from the time interval measured between the respective arrival instants of the pulse wave in the first and in the second signal.