METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE NON-INVASIVE DETECTION OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS BY MONITORING PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL TONE

摘要

A method and apparatus for non-invasive detection of a physiological state ormedical condition is disclosed. The method provides anindication of such state or condition such as myocardial ischemia or sleepapnea, by detecting the peripheral arterial tone's response to suchstate or condition. A static pressure field is applied around the distal partof a digit of the subject. Peripheral arterial tone changes and relatedvolume changes in the distal part of the digit are detected to thereby detector monitor a physiological state or medical condition. Theapparatus comprises a finger probe (20), in the form of a tube (3)accommodating the patient's finger, which is designed to apply pressure,and a contiguous pressure cuff (40) which extends the boundary of saidpressure field. The finger probe (2) either includes or is associatedwith a signal sensor/transducer (100, 101).