Non-invasive blood pressure measurements via the pulse wave velocity methodology

• Main Author: Keshant Mohan
• Other Authors: Du Hejun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Assistive technology; Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Prototyping
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/140958
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Since the beginning of time, healthcare has existed and evolved alongside the human race. The ancient civilisation used simple primitive tools carved out of either stone or wood to carry out their medical procedures. As time progressed, technology grew with immense rigour to make available to us the vast repertoire of electronic apparatus we utilize in every possible medical setting. Medical and healthcare professionals are making life-altering decisions on a daily basis and being decisive on the appropriate treatment protocols can make the difference between life and death. Detailed documentation of the body’s fundamental indicators aids them in determining the next possible course of action. Amongst these indicators, the Blood Pressure (BP) measurement remains the most illusory but critical as it is dependent on more than a singular factor. The current measurement standard being used involves blocking the flow of blood by introducing an external pressure via the expansion of a cuff fitted onto the human arm. The pressure is then released through the deflation of the cuff, allowing the device to register the instance where blood begins to flow which can be translated into a BP reading. Given its importance, much research has been done to understand how technological advancements can help to create a less invasive method to obtain a real-time BP reading. Most of these alternatives utilize sensors of various sorts to attempt to pick up changes occurring along the arteries. This coursework was initiated to design a functionable set-up that would be able to test the theoretical relationship linking the Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and BP. A prototype was constructed to simulate multiple scenarios with varying amounts of force that a blood vessel could experience. The following report outlines the various processes involved and the results that were obtained to determine the feasibility of this project.