DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Utility:

Our device improves on the current methods for taking blood pressure by altering the traditional sphygmomanometer method and utilizing sound to produce a visual representation. In doing so, the need to train medical personnel to listen to Korotkoff sounds is removed. In addition, our device will be non-electronic and hence independent of a power source. This feature allows our device to mainly be  used in developing nations where electricity is not only unstable but also very scarce.

 

Novelty:

The two designs we have now are similar to prior art in the respect that we use a cuff and gauge reading. Asides from that we removed the stethoscope, did not incorporate a computer system, removed the dependence on training to take proper readings, and added two brand new methods. The first being a membrane that reacts to the Korotkoff sounds and displays the blood pulsing. The second utilizes fiber optics to cause slight bending in the fiber resulting in color alteration and a visual representation of the blood pulse*.

 

Obviousness: Our device is unobvious in the sense that we are representing the conventional audio signal into a visual one by the means described above.

 

01. Need

Blood pressure, hyper/hypotension, heart disease and heart failure,

02. Structure

Epoxy fiberglass diaphragm, glass beads in an enclosed housing, nitrile membrane.

03. Function

(membrane): flexible membrane, vibrating steel pellets, visual movement on membrane

(fiber optics): light alteration, visual representation of blood pressure, bending due to blood pulse*

 

Prior Art Search:


*Fiber optic sensor is still being investigated and as of the moment is currently not our primary design focus

Non-Compressed Image: PriorArt.jpg

Word Document: PriorArt.docx

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.