Automated limb blood flow plethysmograph

Am J Physiol. 1983 Mar;244(3):H413-6. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1983.244.3.H413.

Abstract

An automated limb blood flow plethysmograph has been developed and interfaced to a PDP-11/60 computer. This system automatically inflates blood pressure cuffs, calibrates strain gauges, provides real-time display of limb circumference changes, and provides digital output of limb blood flow and real-time graphic display of cuff pressure. The system has been designed to require a minimum amount of user interaction by providing automatic calibration in situ, which is initiated by depressing a switch, and automatic venous cuff inflation, which initiates computer analysis of blood flow data. Digital and graphic display of blood flow is provided on a computer terminal 12 s after the start of venous occlusion. All raw data are stored on a disk for optional postexperiment analysis, which enables each blood flow curve to be graphically displayed and reanalyzed under user control. Calculated data are stored on a disk for output to a line printer at the conclusion of an experiment. A trend plot of all analyzed blood flows can be displayed on a computer terminal anytime during an experiment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Autoanalysis
  • Blood Circulation*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Extremities / blood supply*
  • Humans
  • Plethysmography / instrumentation
  • Plethysmography / methods*