Cuff-Less Blood Pressure Monitoring using Ultrasound

Abstract

This paper introduces a cuff-less blood pressure measurement technique. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) ultrasound applies a compressing force to a vessel wall, while b-mode imaging monitors wall deflection. Initial work used a tissue-mimicking phantom with an embedded fluid-filled tube as an artery. Results show that an inflection point in the wall-deflection vs. ARFI-applied-push curve tracks with changes in fluid pressure. Upcoming work will target absolute fluid pressure measurement by in situ calibration of the ARFI push using backscattered ultrasound from fluid within the vessel.