Abstract
We designed a new sphygmonanometer for the indirect measurement of arterial pressure in the forearms or ankles of babies and children using a volume oscillometric principle. This apparatus consists of a pneumatic cuff for arterial compression and a reflected infrared photoelectric plethysmograph (RIPP) for detecting arterial volume variations. Systolic and mean pressure were determined from the cuff pressure corresponding to the appearance and maximum point of the arterial volume variations. Diastolic pressure was calculated from these pressure values using a coefficient obtained by integrating the arterial volume waves. We have reported that the indirect pressure values were compared with those recorded simultaneously by direct method in the brachial, radial or superficial temporal arteries in 12 subjects (2 months-10 years and five months old). The accuracy of this method estimated through the comparative study was ±5 mmHg for the systolic and the mean and ±7 mmHg for the diastolic pressure. In this study, the indirect blood pressures in ten neonates and premature infants (0-24 days, 850-3650g body weight) were successfully measured by RIPP technique.
