Photoplethysmography for Determining Systolic BP
“White coat effect” is one known factor in mismeasuring blood pressure; driving in traffic to the medical center is another. But more importantly, the cuff devices used to take blood pressure readings are not entirely accurate. Engineers at the Jerusalem College of Technology in Israel have designed what appears to be a better method, using photoplethysmography, which relies on both an arm cuff and an electrical-optic probe (like a pulse oximeter). “The transmitted light exhibits pulses at the heart rate, due to cardiac-induced blood volume changes in the finger tissue. When the cuff pressure increases to above systolic blood pressure these pulses disappear, and when the cuff pressure decreases to below systolic blood pressure they reappear. This effect enables the determination of systolic blood pressure.” MORE
Image Credit: Meir Nitzan, PhD, Jerusalem College of Technology and ScienceDaily.com