A portable low-power blood pressure monitor for smartphones

• Main Author: Poh, Jacqqie Chao Yan
• Other Authors: Chang, Joseph Sylvester
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71147
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Blood pressure has long been one of the best indicators to detect the early onset of diseases and health issues. High blood pressure or hypertension often leads to a greater risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and death. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” as it often produce no symptoms, such that people affected usually do not treat it until the pressure starts to damage the blood vessels – which is too late. Having regular blood pressure readings is therefore important to monitor health and provide early warning signs of potentially fatal diseases. At present, automated blood pressure monitor devices in the market are usually bulky and uncomfortable. There is a need for automated blood pressure monitors that are portable and convenient to use to entice users to take blood pressure readings regularly whenever and wherever. In this project, a personal automated blood pressure monitor (PABM) prototype is realized. The PABM is small, light-weight/portable, low-power, and can be attached to smartphones. It is non-invasive and employs the oscillometric method to measure the blood pressure by converting the oscillations of arterial blood flow to electrical signals. As the PABM is portable and can be attached to the smartphone, it is convenient to the user to carry the device around and use it regularly. Further, the reading is displayed on the smartphone and it can be transmitted to healthcare professionals for analysis. In addition, the prototype makes use of the accelerometer in the phone to assist users to place their arm above the heart level when taking the measurement so as to achieve a more accurate reading. At this juncture, there is no other similar device in the market offering as much accessibility, portability and assistance as the proposed device. This device fills the gap in the market, and is suitable for potential commercialization.