Non invasive measurement of arterial compliance
Hayoz, D.; Rutschmann, B.; Niederberger, M.; Waeber, B.; Brunner, H.R.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 84(Special Issue 3): 73-76
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 1953289 Document Number: 376460
Pulse pressure waves are damped by the elastic properties of the blood vessels. This damping capacity can be evaluated by measuring vascular compliance a parameter which expresses changes of volume with respect to changes of pressure. Arterial compliance varies continuously with respect to intravascular pressure. Our group has developed an ultrasonograph which functions in the A mode capable of measuring the diameter of peripheral arteries during the cardiac cycle. This system is coupled to a photoplethysmograph which records non-invasively and continuously finger blood pressure. This enables construction of pressure-diameter graphs and the determination of arterial compliance and distensibility at each pressure value.