Method and apparatus for making physiological measurements

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in making measurements on a living body having an arteriovascular circulatory system which comprises: a support means for engaging a part of the body adjacent to a location in the body where a length of any artery extends substantially linearly and is adjacent to and generally parallel with the surface of the skin so as to substantially immobilize said part without interfering with the circulation of blood within said artery, said support means being shaped so as to include an opening means adjacent to said length of said artery, a radiation source means and a radiation detection means for use in making measurements by sending out radiation from said source means and by measuring radiation reaching said detection means, holder means for holding said radiation source and detection means located in a location adjacent to said opening means, said holder means supporting said radiation source and detection means adjacent to said opening means, positioning means for moving said holder means and said radiation source and detection means relative to said support means in a coordinate system into any of a series of locations along said length of said artery which have been established as normally being capable of transmitting at least some radiation in an amount having physiological significance from a radiation source, said positioning means being held on said said support means, said holder means and said positioning means serving to hold both said radiation source means and radiation detection means at a specific measurement location so that as said apparatus is used at such a location some radiation from said radiation source means will traverse a part of said body and will be detected by said radiation detection means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in making measurements on a living body having an arteriovascular circulatory system which comprises: a support means for engaging a part of the body adjacent to a location in the body where a length of any artery extends substantially linearly and is adjacent to and generally parallel with the surface of the skin so as to substantially immobilize said part without interfering with the circulation of blood within said artery, said support means being shaped so as to include an opening means adjacent to said length of said artery, a radiation source means and a radiation detection means for use in making measurements by sending out radiation from said source means and by measuring radiation reaching said detection means, holder means for holding said radiation source and detection means located in a location adjacent to said opening means, said holder means supporting said radiation source and detection means adjacent to said opening means, positioning means for moving said holder means and said radiation source and detection means relative to said support means in a coordinate system into any of a series of locations along said length of said artery which have been established as normally being capable of transmitting at least some radiation in an amount having physiological significance from a radiation source, said positioning means being held on said said support means, said holder means and said positioning means serving to hold both said radiation source means and radiation detection means at a specific measurement location so that as said apparatus is used at such a location some radiation from said radiation source means will traverse a part of said body and will be detected by said radiation detection means.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in 1 wherein: said areas at said locations each correspond to a portion of said artery located generally in a plane extending perpendicular to said artery, both said radiation source and detection means have axes and both of said axes are directed substantially towards the same point on the inter-wall of the artery in each of said locations, said source and said detection means also being located on the opposite side of said artery from said point at an angle relative to said artery such that radiation from said source means will be reflected back to said detection means in each of said locations, said radiation source means is separate from said radiation detection means, the axis of said source means and the axis of said detection means are located at substantially the same angle relative to a plane extending perpendicular to said artery in each of said locations, said angle is an angle from about 14.3° to 14.5°, and said radiation source means is capable of continuously emitting ultrasonic radiation and said radiation detection means is capable of providing a continuous signal varying an amplitude in accordance with the ultrasonic radiation received by it.