Blood Pressure Cuff Recess Positioning Aid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current blood pressure measurement cuffs often slip on the arm during application, leading to inaccurate positioning of the bladder, which results in unreliable blood pressure measurements, especially for untrained users.

Innovation Solution

A band-shaped cuff with a positioning aid featuring a recess on the lower edge region, which reduces the risk of slipping by allowing the cuff to be placed inside the elbow, along with additional features like a stiffening element and orientation area to ensure correct placement and application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cuff is applied by pulling on the end section to adjust size, then the cuff can be adapted to different arm circumferences, but the cuff slips lengthwise resulting in unfavorable bladder position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different arm circumferencesVSAvoidbladder position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The recess in the positioning aid is pre-configured to engage with the elbow crease before the cuff is fully applied. This preliminary engagement establishes the correct longitudinal position of the bladder relative to the brachial artery, preventing slippage that would otherwise occur during the application process when the user pulls on the end section to adjust size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning aid with its recess serves as an intermediary element between the cuff and the user's arm. The recess engages with the elbow crease to provide a reference point that prevents longitudinal slippage, while the rest of the cuff can still be adjusted to different arm circumferences by pulling on the end section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the pressure hose is located on the outside of the first longitudinal section near the loop element, then the user can identify correct bladder positioning, but the cuff still slips longitudinally during application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual indication of correct positioningVSAvoidcuff position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning aid with its recess acts as an intermediary mechanism that physically prevents longitudinal slippage. While the pressure hose provides visual information about bladder positioning, the positioning aid ensures the physical stability and reliability of the cuff position during application and measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess is pre-configured to engage with the elbow crease before the cuff is fully applied, establishing the correct longitudinal position in advance. This preliminary action prevents slippage that would otherwise occur when the user pulls on the end section to adjust size, ensuring both visual and physical indicators align for accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the recess is positioned on the inner surface of the user's elbow, then the risk of cuff slipping is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the positioning aid structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuff position stabilityVSAvoidpositioning aid structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning aid is integrated into only a specific local region of the cuff - the first longitudinal section near the loop element - rather than requiring a complete structural redesign of the entire cuff. The recess is positioned locally at a first lower edge region to engage with the elbow crease, providing anti-slip functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2654555B1Blood pressure measuring cuff
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 PAUL HARTMANN AG
  • EP2654555B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2654555B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2654555B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a strip-shaped cuff for measuring the blood pressure, said cuff having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, with an inner face and an outer face, said strip-shaped cuff comprising a loop element, and with an end section that can be passed through the loop element. The strip-shaped cuff has a first longitudinal section that comprises the loop element, said first longitudinal section having a first lower edge region and a first upper edge region. The strip-shaped cuff also comprises an inflating region, said inflating region having a bladder. The invention is characterized in that the first longitudinal section has a positioning aid on a first lower edge region, said positioning aid comprising a recess.