Automatic blood pressure measurement device using oscillometric method and Korotkoff sounds

The oscillometric method and Korotkoff sound method are the most common ways to measure the blood pressure. A new automatic blood pressure measurement device, which uses both oscillometric method and Korotkoff method, was developed. A pressure sensor was used to obtain cuff pressure and oscillation signal, and a microphone was used to detect Korotkoff sounds. Forty-five measurements from fifteen subjects were used for analysis. Correlation coefficients between the traditional auscultatory method and Korotkoff sound method were 0.9820 and 0.9721 for the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, respectively. Standard deviations of differences for the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were 1.3019 and 1.4495, respectively. Correspondingly, correlation coefficients between the traditional auscultatory method and oscillometric method using newly developed algorithm were 0.9651 and 0.9136 for the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, with the standard deviations of 1.42 and 1.73, respectively. The results showed that the newly developed algorithm for oscillometirc method provide accurate blood pressure values, moreover, Korotkoff sound method using microphone provides even higher accuracy. Therefore, a new automatic device which utilizes both oscillometric method and Korotkoff sound method would provide the accurate and reliable blood pressure values.